HomeNews & Press93% of Adults who Identify as LGBTQ+ Have Used Coping Mechanisms or Addictive Behaviors to Manage their Mental Health, according to Myriad Genetics Nationwide Survey 93% of Adults who Identify as LGBTQ+ Have Used Coping Mechanisms or Addictive Behaviors to Manage their Mental Health, according to Myriad Genetics Nationwide Survey June 5, 2023News & Press Nearly twice as many LGBTQ+ respondents say they are currently diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety than the general population SALT LAKE CITY, June 5, 2023 – Nearly all (93%) LGBTQ+ respondents have turned to alcohol, drugs, binge or restrictive eating, gambling or other coping mechanisms to “deal with life’s problems,” according to the GeneSight®Mental Health Monitor, a nationwide survey from Myriad Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: MYGN). This is significantly higher than the general population, where 77% say they’ve used coping mechanisms or addictive behavior to cope. “I have had suicidal ideation for decades, so I would try to find things [like coping mechanisms] to stop those thoughts even if just for a little bit,” said Rose, a transgender woman from Indiana. “The problem is these behaviors become unbalanced crutches.” More than nine out of ten people who identify as LGBTQ+ agree that substance and behavioral addictions can mask underlying mental health issues. “In looking for acceptance, some LGBTQ+ community members may turn to dangerous behaviors to cope with the stress society places on them for being who they are,” said Dawn Johnson, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with the Indiana Center for Recovery, who treated Rose. Of those who turned to unhealthy coping mechanisms, 30% of LGBTQ+ respondents said turning to coping mechanisms like alcohol, drugs, food, gaming, or gambling “helped” when they were dissatisfied with their mental health. High incidence of depression/anxiety Nearly twice as many LGBTQ+ respondents say they are currently diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety than the general population (41% vs. 22% for depression, and 47% vs. 25% for anxiety). On the positive side, the majority of this group (65%) indicate they have a trusted healthcare provider for their mental health needs, more than all adults surveyed (58%). “My mental health was an invisible stone and it got heavy carrying it. By working on my mental health, I’m able to set down that stone and focus on engaging with the world,” said Rose. “The advice I would give other members of the LGBTQ+ community is that the first step to taking care of your mental health is finding a mental health professional. The second step is making sure that the clinician or therapist is right for you.” LGBTQ+ adults seek support, acceptance, and communication The GeneSight Mental Health Monitor found that more than half of LGBTQ+ individuals surveyed agreed that talking to friends/family was the most helpful step in improving mental health symptoms, if they were dissatisfied with their mental health in the past year. Nearly 40% agreed that “more support from family and friends” would be the most impactful step to improving their mental health in the future, followed by “medication that better relieves my symptoms” (37%). Yet, more than half (52%) of LGBTQ+ respondents said they experienced trial and error in trying to find a mental health medication that worked for them. More than four in ten (42%) LGBTQ+ individuals said they turned to an unhealthy coping mechanism as a result of medication failure. Rose experienced trial and error with mental health medications for decades. Johnson ordered the GeneSight test for Rose, which analyzes how a patient’s genes may affect their outcomes with medications commonly prescribed to treat depression, anxiety, ADHD, and other mental health conditions. “The GeneSight test didn’t take away my mental health struggles, but helped my clinician find a medication that made my issues manageable for the first time in my life,” said Rose. “I still have struggles, but having medication that helps me and minimizes my suicidal thoughts is huge. Having my depression and anxiety under control means that I have more time, ability and motivation to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.” GeneSight team to partner with Transform Cincy To support the mental health journey of transgender and gender non-conforming youth, Myriad Genetics will partner with Transform Cincy, a Cincinnati-based organization which provides free wardrobes to transgender and gender non-conforming youth. “A journey can begin with a single thread. Transform Cincy can help those who want to dress in a way that more closely aligns with who they are on the inside,” Tristan N. Vaught (they/them), co-founder of Transform Cincy. “Together with Myriad Genetics, we will develop a mental health education program so that if they are struggling, they can find places to turn and ways to seek help.” The GeneSight team will work with Transform Cincy to create an education program for mental health treatment options, which may include where to go for help and understanding treatment options available. To listen to other practitioners sharing advice for treating the LGBTQ+ population, visit GeneSight Cares. Additional survey results, video and graphics are available at genesight.com/mental-health-monitor. For tips and tactics on ways to improve mental health outside of treatment, visit our Brighter Days Challenge. About the GeneSight Mental Health Monitor The GeneSight Mental Health Monitor is a nationwide survey conducted online by ACUPOLL Precision Research, Inc. in February 2023 among a statistically representative sample (n=1000) of U.S. adults age 18+. The survey included a representative sample of adults diagnosed with depression and anxiety, as well as LGBTQ+ adults. The margin of error in survey results for the total base population at a 95% confidence interval is +/- 3%. The margin of error for the LGBTQ+ population (n=404) at a 95% confidence interval is +/-5%. About the GeneSight Test The GeneSight Psychotropic test from Myriad Genetics is the category-leading pharmacogenomic test for 64 medications commonly prescribed for depression, anxiety, ADHD, and other psychiatric conditions. The GeneSight test can help inform clinicians about how a patient’s genes may impact how they metabolize and/or respond to certain psychiatric medications. Tens of thousands of clinicians have ordered the GeneSight test for more than two million patients in order to receive genetic information that is unique to each patient. The GeneSight test supplements other information considered by a clinician as part of a comprehensive medical assessment. Learn more at GeneSight.com. About Myriad Genetics Myriad Genetics is a leading genetic testing and precision medicine company dedicated to advancing health and well-being for all. Myriad develops and offers genetic tests that help assess the risk of developing disease or disease progression and guide treatment decisions across medical specialties where genetic insights can significantly improve patient care and lower healthcare costs. For more information, visit www.myriad.com. 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Read more Patient Weight-Loss Drugs and Mental Health: What You Need to Know New medications for weight loss seem to be flying off pharmacy shelves these days. But could they be linked to mental health conditions? Researchers are ... Read more Patient 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We’re thrilled to share that 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We're so grateful to the dedicated healthcare providers who... Read more Patient The Model Minority Myth and Mental Health The model minority myth stereotypes one cultural group, typically Asian Americans, as “intelligent, hard-working, and diligent and therefore more academically, ... Read more Healthcare Provider How Clinicians Can Help Support Their Patients Who Are Being Bullied How Clinicians Can Help Support Their Patients Who Are Being Bullied Acts of bullying can cause feelings of fear, loneliness and sadness, as well as depressi... Read more Patient Cyberbullying: Unique Challenges and Impacts ‘We lost our daughter to cyberbullying.’ McKenna Brown was an accomplished hockey player and scholar, known for her kindness, when she became the target of int... Read more Going Beyond Green, Yellow, Red on the GeneSight Report This blog summarizes key points discussed during the March 2024 GeneSight® Engage webinar Participants: Bernie Ranchero, MD, MS, MBA, medical direc... Read more Healthcare Provider Top 5 Reasons Patients Stop Their Mood Disorder Treatment Mood disorder treatment for depression can be challenging – and patients may become frustrated when treatments don’t work. In fact, when people with depres... Read more Patient The Impact of Gratitude on Depression and Anxiety “Say ‘Thank you,” a mother reminds her young kiddo. “T.G.I.F.!” we cheer at the end of a long week. We know it’s important to be thankful. But do we ... Read more Patient The Silent Thief: The 5 Things Depression Can Steal “Depression is a thief,” writes Abhinav Chaurasia, a marketing automation specialist in an essay on LinkedIn. “It steals your joy, your motivation, and your abi... Read more Patient How to Talk to Your Doctor about Anxiety Medication “When I was 27, I felt bad all the time,” writes Joanna Goddard on the popular Cup of Jo blog. She describes her initial experience with anxiety in detail. ... Read more Healthcare Provider Building Trust by Reducing Bias: The GeneSight Test as a Tool for Mental Health Equity This blog summarizes key points discussed during Myriad Mental Health’s July 2022 Webinar: Building Trust by Reducing Bias: The GeneSight Test as a Tool for Men... Read more Patient Anxiety and older adults: What to look for and how to help “It’s not how old you are. It’s how you are, old.” - French author Jules Renard Mental health is important at every age. But when people experience an a... Read more Patient Adult ADHD: Symptoms, treatment, where to start Many people may incorrectly think ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, only impacts children. After all, according to the Centers for Disease C... Read more Healthcare Provider It’s time to talk suicide: addressing stigma around a difficult topic Trigger Warning: This webinar discusses suicide. If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. ... Read more Patient Stress Relief Methods for Family Caregivers Caring for a loved one can be a rewarding and meaningful experience. However, the day in and day out of taking care of someone who is unwell also can be challen... Read more Healthcare Provider Healthcare Professional Burnout and Links to Depression When Dr. Lorna Breen, an ER doc in Manhattan, died by suicide in April 2020, it opened up a public discussion about the burdens faced by healthcare professi... Read more Healthcare Provider Antidepressant Withdrawal or Depression Reoccurrence? What Healthcare Providers Should Know People who stop taking antidepressants may do so for many reasons: they may feel like it isn’t working, may feel unable to cope with side effects, or may not fe... Read more Learn more Learn more about GeneSight How to talk to your provider View our clinical studies
Patient Movement as Medicine: Solutions for Anxiety Moving forward. It sounds like a nice idea, especially when you’re feeling stuck deep in the throes of an anxiety spiral. But it turns out that physically m... Read more
Patient Weight-Loss Drugs and Mental Health: What You Need to Know New medications for weight loss seem to be flying off pharmacy shelves these days. But could they be linked to mental health conditions? Researchers are ... Read more
Patient 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We’re thrilled to share that 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We're so grateful to the dedicated healthcare providers who... Read more
Patient The Model Minority Myth and Mental Health The model minority myth stereotypes one cultural group, typically Asian Americans, as “intelligent, hard-working, and diligent and therefore more academically, ... Read more
Healthcare Provider How Clinicians Can Help Support Their Patients Who Are Being Bullied How Clinicians Can Help Support Their Patients Who Are Being Bullied Acts of bullying can cause feelings of fear, loneliness and sadness, as well as depressi... Read more
Patient Cyberbullying: Unique Challenges and Impacts ‘We lost our daughter to cyberbullying.’ McKenna Brown was an accomplished hockey player and scholar, known for her kindness, when she became the target of int... Read more
Going Beyond Green, Yellow, Red on the GeneSight Report This blog summarizes key points discussed during the March 2024 GeneSight® Engage webinar Participants: Bernie Ranchero, MD, MS, MBA, medical direc... Read more
Healthcare Provider Top 5 Reasons Patients Stop Their Mood Disorder Treatment Mood disorder treatment for depression can be challenging – and patients may become frustrated when treatments don’t work. In fact, when people with depres... Read more
Patient The Impact of Gratitude on Depression and Anxiety “Say ‘Thank you,” a mother reminds her young kiddo. “T.G.I.F.!” we cheer at the end of a long week. We know it’s important to be thankful. But do we ... Read more
Patient The Silent Thief: The 5 Things Depression Can Steal “Depression is a thief,” writes Abhinav Chaurasia, a marketing automation specialist in an essay on LinkedIn. “It steals your joy, your motivation, and your abi... Read more
Patient How to Talk to Your Doctor about Anxiety Medication “When I was 27, I felt bad all the time,” writes Joanna Goddard on the popular Cup of Jo blog. She describes her initial experience with anxiety in detail. ... Read more
Healthcare Provider Building Trust by Reducing Bias: The GeneSight Test as a Tool for Mental Health Equity This blog summarizes key points discussed during Myriad Mental Health’s July 2022 Webinar: Building Trust by Reducing Bias: The GeneSight Test as a Tool for Men... Read more
Patient Anxiety and older adults: What to look for and how to help “It’s not how old you are. It’s how you are, old.” - French author Jules Renard Mental health is important at every age. But when people experience an a... Read more
Patient Adult ADHD: Symptoms, treatment, where to start Many people may incorrectly think ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, only impacts children. After all, according to the Centers for Disease C... Read more
Healthcare Provider It’s time to talk suicide: addressing stigma around a difficult topic Trigger Warning: This webinar discusses suicide. If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. ... Read more
Patient Stress Relief Methods for Family Caregivers Caring for a loved one can be a rewarding and meaningful experience. However, the day in and day out of taking care of someone who is unwell also can be challen... Read more
Healthcare Provider Healthcare Professional Burnout and Links to Depression When Dr. Lorna Breen, an ER doc in Manhattan, died by suicide in April 2020, it opened up a public discussion about the burdens faced by healthcare professi... Read more
Healthcare Provider Antidepressant Withdrawal or Depression Reoccurrence? What Healthcare Providers Should Know People who stop taking antidepressants may do so for many reasons: they may feel like it isn’t working, may feel unable to cope with side effects, or may not fe... Read more