Mental Health
is a Human Right
We’re on a mission to bring mental health to everyone because we all deserve to feel whole again.
Introducing our Health Equity Program
We are creating access to treatment and training opportunities to bring MDMA-assisted therapy to communities that need it. Research shows that alignment among healthcare providers and their patients can improve survival, safety, and trust for patients. We are committed to developing a network of therapy providers who are reflective of the diverse demographics of people who experience trauma.
Together, we can bring healing to as many people as possible.
Thanks for your contribution to MAPS!
Your tax-deductible contribution supports psychedelic science research, drug policy reform, public education, harm reduction, peer support, and our general operations.
The Revolution Starts Now
With potential FDA approval of MDMA-assisted therapy on the horizon, our Health Equity Program includes a plan which will safely and effectively deliver this potentially life-saving care to as many people as possible.
This plan includes a fundraising goal and allocation strategy of $5.5 million to four main initiatives over the next three years: Scholarships, Treatment Access Fund, Inclusive Community, and Expanding our Team.
Scholarships
Providing scholarships for training therapists, supervisors, and trainers from historically marginalized communities.
Treatment access fund
Supporting clinics and patients in the expanded access program with a treatment access fund.
INclusive community
Building inclusive and equitable community, outreach, and education.
Expanding our team
Hiring team members at MAPS and MAPS Public Benefit Corporations (MAPS PBC) who will be dedicated to integrating health equity principles into all aspects of our work.
Thanks to organizations including Libra Foundation, Riverstyx Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Dr. Bronner’s, the Psychedelic Science Funders Collaborative (PSFC), atai Impact, and individuals including Gwyneth Paltrow, Bob Parsons, Craig Nerenberg and Phoebe Taubman, and Rachel Ratliff, we’re on our way to meeting our goals.
Add your name to the list of influential organizations and individuals by donating today.
Mental Healing
is a Human Right
The most important element of successful therapy—especially psychedelic therapy—is establishing a safe space through a trusting relationship between providers and patients. Research has shown that racial and ethnic alignment between the giver and the receiver of therapy can improve survival, safety, and trust.
In order for our Health Equity Program to reach its most positive outcome, we’re committed to developing a network of MDMA therapists, supervisors, and trainers who better reflect the diverse demographics of the communities where we expect MDMA to be approved as a medicine.
Empowering Communities
Our biggest goal for the Health Equity Program is to expand our therapist training to include, empower, and train therapists, supervisors, and trainers from communities who experience high rates of trauma and insufficient access to care. In the United States, that includes Indigenous, Black, and Latinx Americans*, as well as LGBTQ+** individuals.
Our Health Equity Program will prioritize training therapists who represent the Indigenous, Black, Latinx, LGBTQ+, non-able-bodied, refugee or immigrant communities, as well as individuals who have been formerly incarcerated, work in rural communities, and/or who are economically marginalized.
We especially value people’s perspectives with multiple intersecting marginalized identities, as they experience even higher barriers to effective care, as well as access to therapist training.
*(Alegría et al., 2013; Roberts et al., 2011)
**(Mizock & Lewis, 2008; Roberts et al., 2012
Access for All
Our Health Equity Program also includes a plan which creates an expanded access + patient access fund to support the start-up costs of expanded access clinics as well as provide subsidization for MDMA-assisted therapy treatment costs for patients in need of financial assistance.
This plan supports the many costs required to get expanded access clinics started—ranging from preparing and designing treatment rooms to purchasing and installing drug storage equipment—as well as providing more opportunities for therapists from underrepresented communities to develop into MDMA therapy trainers and supervisors.
Additionally, our Health Equity Program allocates ongoing resources covering topics including staff and community building, outreach, and education. These resources will be made available through social media, as well as educational and community-building events and workshops that cover a broad understanding of cultural and historical trauma, psychedelic education, and harm reduction.
