{"id":483107,"date":"2021-04-28T07:08:13","date_gmt":"2021-04-28T11:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/depression-disconnect-genesight-mental-health-monitor-shows-misunderstanding-of-depression-and-treatment\/"},"modified":"2021-04-28T07:08:13","modified_gmt":"2021-04-28T11:08:13","slug":"depression-disconnect-genesight-mental-health-monitor-shows-misunderstanding-of-depression-and-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/depression-disconnect-genesight-mental-health-monitor-shows-misunderstanding-of-depression-and-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Depression Disconnect: GeneSight\u00ae Mental Health Monitor Shows Misunderstanding of Depression and Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"

\nNew poll shows 83% of people with depression agree life would be easier if others could understand their depression
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SALT LAKE CITY, April 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a new nationwide poll, the GeneSight\u00ae<\/sup> Mental Health Monitor found that 83% of people with depression agree that life would be easier if others could understand their depression. Yet, most people who have not experienced depression may not be able to understand the challenges, including its treatment.<\/p>\n

\u201cDepression is one of the most misunderstood disorders. When people misinterpret patients with depression as \u2018lazy\u2019 or \u2018dramatic,\u2019 they are vastly underestimating and misunderstanding the debilitating symptoms of major depressive disorder,\u201d said Mark Pollack, M.D., chief medical officer for the GeneSight test at Myriad Genetics. \u201cThat is why we are working with the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, so that loved ones can offer more empathetic support and people with depression won\u2019t feel so alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Mental Health Awareness Month (May), GeneSight and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) have partnered to raise awareness and understanding for how a person who has major depressive disorder feels, and why it can be so hard to seek treatment.<\/p>\n

\n Lack of Understanding and Empathy about Depression<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

Three out of four people living with depression said they desire support from their loved ones including just listening or saying supportive things like: \u201cHow can I help?\u201d or \u201cDo you want to talk about it?\u201d. Instead, nearly half of those with depression said they were more likely to hear statements like: \u201cYou need to get over it\/snap out of it\u201d or \u201cWe all get sad sometimes\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cDepression is a serious but treatable medical condition that affects how a person feels, thinks, and acts. Though typically characterized by feelings of sadness, depression symptoms may appear as irritability or apathy,\u201d said Michael Thase, M.D., professor of psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine and the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, and DBSA scientific advisory board member. \u201cWe must work together \u2013 providers, patients, family and friends \u2013 to continue to reduce the impact of stigma. Misunderstanding the disorder may lead to people feeling embarrassed and\/or unwilling to seek the treatment they need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nearly half of those either diagnosed with depression or concerned they may have depression say they feel ashamed\/embarrassed when others found out they were suffering from depression, according to the GeneSight Mental Health Monitor.<\/p>\n

\n Pandemic Prompts Search for New Treatment<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

More than half of those diagnosed with depression indicated in the poll that they started a new medication since the start of the pandemic. Nevertheless, for some, starting a new depression medication doesn\u2019t guarantee success.<\/p>\n

More than half of people diagnosed with depression said they have tried four or more depression medications in their lifetime, with nearly 1 in 4 respondents reporting they have tried six or more medications to try to find relief.<\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t get out of bed to take care of my children, much less go to the doctor multiple times to try new medicines that \u2018might\u2019 help,\u201d said Amanda, a 25-year-old woman who was diagnosed with major depressive disorder. \u201cThe years of trial and error were so frustrating and discouraging. You feel like you are stuck living that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those who indicated in the GeneSight Mental Health Monitor that they had experienced the trial-and-error process described the experience as:<\/p>\n