(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – More than one in four men use things like drugs, alcohol, food and gambling to improve their mental health, according to the GeneSight Mental Health Monitor, a national survey from Myriad Genetics. Yet, experts say that mental health treatment is key.
“As a rugby player, I tried ‘manning up’ and ‘toughing it out’ for years after I lost my dad, but that clearly wasn’t the answer. Mental health treatment helped me and is likely a better option for other men – or for anyone who is struggling,” said Ryan Griggs, PhD, medical science liaison with Myriad Genetics. “June is Men’s Health Month, and these survey results confirm that men have unique issues to overcome when it comes to finding healthy ways to care for their mental health.”
Dylan Eyestone used drugs to self-medicate his mental health issues. When he finally sought help, he saw that he didn’t need to shoulder the burden on his own.
“Men think they’re expected to take life with blunt force, full on by themselves. I struggled with that for a long time,” said Eyestone. “But you can’t just magically toughen up your brain. If something’s wrong, something’s wrong. It’s about letting go of your ego and realizing that it’s not your fault and that there are others out there who want to help you through this.”
Yet, only 53% of men say they have a trusted mental healthcare provider, significantly less than the 63% of women who say they have a trusted provider. Of those who have a mental healthcare provider, nearly 80% say they are satisfied with their mental healthcare – compared to 51% of those who don’t have a trusted provider.
“Many men worry about being branded with a mental illness. We need to change the conversation, as it is about mental wellness – not illness,” said Dr. Thomas J. Valente, a psychiatrist in Leesburg, Florida. “If stigma leads a patient to not accept a mental illness, then they won’t accept the treatment. I tell all patients, ‘Accept yourself – and seek treatment when you aren’t well.’”
Dr. Valente orders the GeneSight test for patients whose mental health medications have failed them. The test analyzes how a patient’s genes may affect their outcomes with medications commonly prescribed to treat depression, anxiety, ADHD and other mental health conditions.
