New Year’s Resolutions: Add Mental Health to the List
This material has been reviewed for accuracy by: Renee Albers, PhD
Now is the time when people start to think of new year’s resolutions to improve their health. For many, the focus is on physical goals like losing weight or exercising more. A nationwide survey suggests that many may want to consider adding mental health resolutions to their list.
More than three out of four respondents said that physical and mental health were equally important. Yet, when it comes to care, four in 10 indicate they’re more likely to see a doctor for a physical ailment than a mental health need according to the GeneSight® Mental Health Monitor from Myriad Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: MYGN), a leader in genetic testing and precision medicine.
When asked about the best ways to care for their health:
| Physical Health | Mental Health | |
| Exercise | 81% | 61% |
| Diet | 68% | 33% |
| Annual physical exams (doctor visits) | 68% | 32% |
| Seeing a doctor when sick or for mental health issue | 63% | 49% |
| Medication | 46% | 29% |
More than two-thirds of respondents said annual doctor visits are one of the best ways to take care of physical health, but only one-third said that approach was good for mental health. Regular mental health checkups with your doctor are vital to managing mental health and getting treatment before challenges become debilitating crises.
Family doctors play an important role
While 84% said they had a trusted healthcare provider for their physical health, only about half of adults surveyed said they had a trusted mental healthcare provider.
Yet, for many, their healthcare provider may perform double duty. Family doctors are often on the front lines of mental health. When asked who they would see first if they suspected they had a mental health challenge, most survey respondents (44%) would talk to a general practitioner – followed by psychologists (24%) or psychiatrists (20%).
Tens of thousands of clinicians across the country have ordered the GeneSight test, 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. For more information, please visit GeneSight.com.
About the GeneSight® Mental Health Monitor
The GeneSight Mental Health Monitor is a nationwide survey of U.S. adults conducted by ACUPOLL Precision Research, Inc. in Aug.-Sept. 2021 among a statistically representative sample of adults age 21+, including a representative sample diagnosed with anxiety. The margin of error in survey results for the total base population at a 95% confidence interval is +/- 3%.
Our articles are for informational purposes only and are reviewed by our Medical Information team, which includes PharmDs, MDs, and PhDs. Do not make any changes to your current medications or dosing without consulting your healthcare provider.
The GeneSight test must be ordered by and used only in consultation with a healthcare provider who can prescribe medications. As with all genetic tests, the GeneSight test results have limitations and do not constitute medical advice. The test results are designed to be just one part of a larger, complete patient assessment, which would include proper diagnosis and consideration of your medical history, other medications you may be taking, your family history, and other factors.
If you are a healthcare provider and interested in learning more about the GeneSight test, please contact us at 855.891.9415. If you are a patient, please talk with your doctor to see if the GeneSight test may be helpful.
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