From restricted or binge eating to excessive gambling to extreme social media use, 77 per cent of Americans surveyed say they have used at least one addictive behavior and/or unhealthy coping mechanism to manage their mental health issues, according to the GeneSight® Mental Health Monitor, a nationwide survey from Myriad Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: MYGN).
Nearly all Americans (94 per cent) surveyed agree that substance and behavioral addictions often mask underlying mental health issues. Though they may view these behaviors as addictive or as unhealthy coping mechanisms (or both), many admit to still using them 1.
“Mental health and addiction often go hand-in-hand,” said Morgan Freas, PharmD, a senior medical science liaison with Myriad Genetics. “Yet the stigma associated with admitting mental health challenges is often greater than escaping into substance or behavioral abuse.”
The survey found those diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety consider drinking alcohol alone as an unhealthy coping mechanism, addictive behavior or both (77 per cent). Yet, 41 per cent of these respondents admitted to drinking alone to cope. In fact, 25 per cent of this segment who said they heavily drank alone admitted they were worried they had a problem.
“Many of my patients have struggled with depression and/or anxiety but failed to find a treatment that made them feel better. So, they resorted to alcohol, drugs or destructive behaviors to sooth themselves, as these offered short-term relief,” said Dawn Johnson, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner at the Indiana Center for Recovery in South Bend2. “However, this behavior resulted in worsening mental health and destruction of their lives. I’ve seen it personally.”
Johnson’s husband died due to his addictions and mental health issues. After his death, she studied to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner to help others address their mental health and substance/behavioral addiction issues.
Medication trial and error may prompt unhealthy choices
Two-thirds of those diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety have experienced trial and error in trying to find medication that works for them. Nearly half of this segment (45%) report they have turned to an unhealthy coping mechanism as a result of a medication failure.
Those diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety admitted to using the following coping mechanisms:
- Sleeping too much or too little – 70 per cent
- Withdrawing from social activities – 64 per cent
- Binge-watching TV or movies – 49 per cent
- Skipping work/school/household responsibilities – 48 per cent
Johnson, whose patients have typically tried multiple medications without success, uses the GeneSight test in her practice as a tool to learn as much as she can about the patient before starting another mental health medication treatment. GeneSight 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 has been very helpful with my patients because they can see that many of the medications that failed were in their moderate or significant gene-drug interaction categories. This means they may not have been metabolizing them properly, along with experiencing no symptom relief or horrible side effects,” said Johnson. “The GeneSight report reassures them that we’re not just throwing medications at them, we’re actually customizing their plan based on their genetic makeup.”
The survey found that of those who were told they have a problem, 58 per cent of those diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety say mental health treatment helped relieve their addiction concerns.
Mental health trends: Rising depression and anxiety rates and their impacts
The GeneSight Mental Health Monitor tracks depression/anxiety rates as well as factors driving mental health concerns and their impact on people’s lives. Comparing spring 2023 and spring 2022 survey results, significantly more Americans are experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety compared to just one year prior.
The top factors negatively impacting mental health in the past year, among those dissatisfied with their mental health, include (respondents selected top 3 in the 2023 survey):
- Cost of living – 42 per cent
- Relationships with a family member or friend – 36 per cent
- Ability to financially support my family – 29 per cent
- Body image – 25 per cent
- Death of a close friend/family member – 20 per cent
- Workplace performance/satisfaction – 16 per cent
- What others think of me – 16 per cent
- Dependence on alcohol or drugs – 13 per cent
- Spread of COVID or another public health concern – 11 per cent
- A medical diagnosis for myself or a loved one – 11 per cent
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