Headline findings

In plain language. Every figure is a share of all 443 respondents, from the final validated data.

A doctor's word outweighs advertising74 percent said a recommendation from their own doctor would most make them try a new depression treatment. 2 percent said an ad.
Most people would start with their primary doctor56 percent would go to their primary doctor first. 12 percent would search online themselves.
Few have heard of Spravato73 percent had never heard of Spravato (esketamine). 6 percent said they know what it is.
Insurance coverage leads every other factor85 percent ranked "covered by insurance" among the two things that matter most when choosing a provider.
Commercial insurance and Medicaid are nearly tied39 percent are covered by commercial or private insurance, the largest group, with Medicaid a close second at 37 percent. 23 percent have Medicare.
Depression that standard medication did not help is common72 percent have personal or close experience with depression, anxiety, or PTSD that did not improve on standard medication.
Open far more often than opposed51 percent were open to ketamine therapy for depression or PTSD (cautious but open, or hopeful). 9 percent reacted negatively.
A general-population sampleAbout 7 percent are themselves a veteran, active military member, or first responder (29 of 443). Most respondents, 58 percent, have no such connection.

Full topline results

Each table shows every answer with its share of respondents and raw count. Shares are rounded to whole percents, so a column may not sum to exactly 100. Multi-select questions total more than 100 percent. How answers differ by group follows in the group breakdowns.

SQ1Consent screenerScreener · n=443
Answer	Share of respondents	Count
Yes, 18 or older and I consent	100%	443
No, I would rather not take part	0%	0

Everyone who did not consent was screened out, so all 443 completes consented.

Q2Which best describes you?Single selection · n=443
Answer	Share of respondents	Count
None of the above	58%	258
Parent or family member of a veteran or first responder	29%	129
Spouse or partner of a veteran or first responder	6%	27
First responder (police, fire, EMS)	4%	18
Veteran or active military	2%	11

About 7 percent are themselves a veteran, active military member, or first responder (29 of 443). Combined, 42 percent have some connection.

Q3Have you, or someone close to you, struggled with depression, anxiety or PTSD that did not improve on standard medication?Single selection · n=443
Answer	Share of respondents	Count
Yes, myself	37%	166
No	28%	124
Yes, someone close to me	22%	97
Both	13%	56

Combined, 72 percent answered yes in some form, and 50 percent said it was themselves (yes, myself, or both).

Q4If you were looking for help, what exact words would you type into Google?

Open text · n=319 answered. Examples of what people typed, shown as written. Respondents typed symptoms and requests for help; almost none typed a drug name.

“help with depression”
“help with ptsd”
“ptsd help”
“how to help someone with depression”
“depression medicine alternatives”
“ptsd treatments”
“therapist near me”
“how to overcome depression”
“best ways to handle depression”
“how to cope with my anxiety”
“help with mental health”
“someone please help me”
“depressed”

Q5Before today, had you heard of Spravato (esketamine)?Single selection · n=443
Answer	Share of respondents	Count
No	73%	324
I've heard the name	21%	92
Yes, I know what it is	6%	27

Combined, 94 percent could not say what Spravato is (had never heard of it, or had heard the name only).

Q6What is your first reaction to "ketamine therapy for depression or PTSD"?Single selection · n=443
Answer	Share of respondents	Count
Cautious but open	34%	150
Skeptical	21%	94
Never heard of it	18%	79
Hopeful or curious	18%	78
Negative, it sounds like a drug	9%	42

Combined, 51 percent were open (cautious but open, or hopeful or curious) and 31 percent were skeptical or negative.

Q7How much would "covered by insurance" change whether you would try it?Single selection · n=443
Answer	Share of respondents	Count
Big impact	43%	191
It's the deciding factor	22%	96
Some	21%	94
None	14%	62

Combined, 65 percent said insurance is the deciding factor or a big factor.

Q8How much would "FDA approved" change whether you would try it?Single selection · n=443
Answer	Share of respondents	Count
Big impact	40%	178
Some	27%	121
It's the deciding factor	19%	83
None	14%	61

Combined, 59 percent said FDA approval is the deciding factor or a big factor.

Q9Would you choose (A) covered by insurance with more hoops, or (B) pay yourself and simpler to start?Single selection · n=443
Answer	Share of respondents	Count
Option A: covered by insurance, more hoops	51%	224
Not sure, depends	26%	115
Option B: pay myself, simpler to start	23%	104

Q10If you wanted this treatment, who would you go to first?Single selection · n=443
Answer	Share of respondents	Count
My primary doctor	56%	250
A psychiatrist or mental health provider	23%	102
Search online myself	12%	51
I wouldn't know where to start	5%	22
Ask a friend or family member	1%	6

One further answer option, chosen by 12 of 443 respondents (3 percent), is not shown.

Q11If available, how would you prefer to receive it?Single selection · n=443
Answer	Share of respondents	Count
In person at a local clinic	44%	194
Start in a clinic, then move to at-home	23%	103
At home via telehealth (medication shipped to me)	22%	98
No preference or not sure	11%	48

Combined, 67 percent want a clinic involved (in person, or starting in a clinic and then moving home).

Q12Whose recommendation would most make you actually try it?Single selection · n=443
Answer	Share of respondents	Count
My own doctor	74%	330
A close friend or family member	18%	79
A veteran or first responder I follow online	4%	18
An ad I saw	2%	10
A podcast host I trust	1%	6

Q13Do you know what TMS is, and would "drug-free, less invasive" make you more comfortable?Single selection · n=443
Answer	Share of respondents	Count
Don't know TMS, but drug-free matters	51%	224
Don't know TMS, doesn't matter	25%	109
I know TMS, and drug-free matters a lot	13%	59
I know TMS, doesn't change much	12%	51

Combined, 64 percent said drug-free matters; 25 percent know what TMS is.

Q14When choosing a provider, which two matter most?Multiple selection (pick two) · n=443
Answer	Share of respondents	Count
Covered by insurance	85%	376
Close to home	43%	192
FDA-approved and proven	27%	119
Fast results	24%	108
Private or discreet	11%	48
Specializes in veterans and first responders	10%	43

Respondents picked two, so shares total more than 100 percent.

Q15Which of these covers you?Multiple selection · n=443
Answer	Share of respondents	Count
Commercial or private insurance	39%	173
Medicaid	37%	163
Medicare	23%	100
None, uninsured	9%	39
TRICARE (military)	5%	20
Prefer not to say	2%	11

Respondents could pick more than one, so shares total more than 100 percent.

Group breakdowns

How answers differ across groups of respondents. Each figure is the share of that group, and each group's size is shown as n. The first row is all 443 respondents, for comparison. Only groups of 30 or more respondents are reported. TRICARE members (20 respondents) and respondents who are themselves a veteran or first responder (29) are too small to report, so no figures are given for either. The St. Louis TV market group is small (31), so read it with care. Coverage groups overlap, because respondents could name more than one type of coverage.

Awareness, openness and who they trustShare of each group · groups of 30 or more respondents
Group	Respondents (n)	Never heard of Spravato	Open to ketamine therapy	Own doctor would move them most	Would go to primary doctor first	Prefer an in-person clinic	Drug-free option matters
All respondents	443	73%	51%	74%	56%	44%	64%
Covered by Medicaid	163	69%	55%	75%	61%	45%	63%
Covered by commercial insurance	173	74%	49%	81%	57%	40%	71%
Covered by Medicare	100	72%	48%	69%	60%	50%	56%
Uninsured	39	85%	56%	67%	51%	38%	54%
Family or spouse of a veteran or first responder	156	64%	57%	73%	60%	49%	72%
Parents or family of a veteran or first responder	129	64%	55%	75%	63%	52%	71%
Ages 18 to 34	142	70%	53%	71%	51%	44%	61%
Ages 35 to 49	171	70%	54%	70%	56%	46%	60%
Ages 50 to 64	130	81%	46%	84%	64%	40%	72%
Women	279	76%	49%	75%	58%	42%	65%
Men	164	68%	55%	74%	53%	47%	62%
Missouri residents	55	75%	55%	65%	45%	38%	71%
St. Louis TV market	31	74%	58%	68%	61%	48%	61%
Personally had depression that standard medication did not help	222	70%	55%	73%	53%	47%	60%

Insurance and what they weighShare of each group · groups of 30 or more respondents
Group	Respondents (n)	Insurance is a deciding or big factor	Rank insurance in top two	Choose covered with hoops over self-pay	FDA approval is a deciding or big factor	Rank close to home in top two
All respondents	443	65%	85%	51%	59%	43%
Covered by Medicaid	163	68%	90%	57%	65%	45%
Covered by commercial insurance	173	67%	84%	50%	54%	43%
Covered by Medicare	100	64%	86%	58%	60%	45%
Uninsured	39	56%	72%	38%	54%	49%
Family or spouse of a veteran or first responder	156	67%	83%	51%	67%	42%
Parents or family of a veteran or first responder	129	64%	84%	48%	64%	43%
Ages 18 to 34	142	73%	82%	52%	61%	46%
Ages 35 to 49	171	62%	85%	51%	57%	43%
Ages 50 to 64	130	60%	88%	48%	59%	41%
Women	279	63%	87%	50%	57%	42%
Men	164	67%	82%	52%	62%	45%
Missouri residents	55	58%	93%	44%	51%	42%
St. Louis TV market	31	48%	90%	39%	58%	39%
Personally had depression that standard medication did not help	222	69%	87%	55%	64%	45%

Midwest Depression Care Survey 2026

Headline findings

Full topline results

Q4If you were looking for help, what exact words would you type into Google?

Group breakdowns

Methodology

How to cite