"For centuries shamans and healers have been using psychedelics in sacramental rituals in the belief that the substances have healing qualities and can lead to meaningful spiritual experiences. It turns out contemporary science may back these ancient claims.  A new study http conducted by the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health found that participants who took naturalistic doses of classic psychedelics  magic mushrooms DMT mescaline and LSD  had significantly decreased the likelihood of having suicidal thoughts suicide attempts and psychological distress. The study published recently in the Journal of Pharmacology httpjpet.aspetjournals.org analyzed data from an annual survey conducted by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health that measures substance abuse in relation to mental illness. The data were compiled between  and  and drew from the experiences of  adults. Participants answered prerecorded questions about their individual use of classic psychedelics and the data was collected in person. Of those surveyed . or about  people reported having used classic psychedelics. The results showed that those who had taken these substances in their lifetime had a  less likelihood of exhibiting psychological distress in the past month and their reports of suicidal thoughts in the past year were likely to be  lower. Whats more that same group reported a  lower probability of suicide attempts in the past year.  The National Alliance on Mental Illness estimates that  people in the U.S. die from suicide each year and worldwide that number is  million. While treatment for mental health disorders has improved markedly in the past century the suicide rate remains stagnant.  Only two population studies to date this one included specifically address the relationship between mental illness and psychedelics. In  individuals with advancedstage cancer were given single doses of psilocybin and were found to have reduced longterm incidences of depression and anxiety.  In recent years some scientists such as this studys lead researcher Peter S. Hendricks have been pioneering innovative treatments to help decrease the suicide rate. Hendricks is a clinical psychologist by trade but his interest in the use of psychedelics was piqued by working with people who struggled with addiction particularly lifelong cigarette smokers. He says he became demoralized by patients who had little luck quitting with the intervention programs he and his team developed. Hendricks says psychedelics can possibly help patients shift their priorities or lead to drastic changes in perspective or even spiritual experiences that will help them improve their mental states. Those who are addicted to say smoking or using cocaine arent doing so because they believe its their purpose in life in fact often that behavior can conflict with whatever they believe their overall purpose might be. So when you administer a psychedelic you reprioritize their values such that whatever their grander purpose might be takes priority Hendricks said in an interview with Newsweek.  The UAB isnt the first study to flirt with this idea. A smokingcessation trial in the fall https found that lifelong smokers who took several controlled doses of psilocybin demonstrated tobacco abstinence rates of up to  in the long term. The heightened connectivity to spirituality has also been demonstrated to curb suicidal thoughts and attempts. A lack of resources and funding is a hindrance to continuing studies however as psychedelics are still classified as schedule  narcotics in the U.S. and criminal offenses accompany their possession. While skeptics may question the idea of using psychedelics as treatment for psychological distress Hendricks emphasizes that he does not advocate for rampant recreational use of psychedelics or widespread legalization. He believes the data support the idea of demoting psychedelics to schedule  or  and that they can be used in controlled therapy situations. The study does have shortcomings For one the data relied on people selfreporting their habits so there is a possibility of error there. Additionally the effects of psychedelics on the developing brain are still largely unknown meaning they could pose a threat to people with a predisposition to schizophrenia. The scientists recognize too that its still unknown if classic psychedelics concretely led to a drop in psychological distress and suicidality perhaps those who participated in the study and had reported using psychedelics in the past had personalities that made them less susceptible to distress and suicidality in the first place. Culturally psychedelics bear quite a bit of baggage Timothy Learys call to turn on tune in and drop out became a countercultural slogan in the s and proved damaging to potential research on utilizing the drug to improve mental health for more than three decades. Perhaps this study will be a turning point in how our culture regards psychedelics and mental health. I know scientists are supposed to be objective and dispassionate Hendricks says. But Im excited and hopeful. Ive seen the data  it seems to me that psychedelics hold tremendous therapeutic potential."