More than 80% of Americans report one or more symptoms of depression, and many have turned to substances to cope with negative emotions during COVID-19 Pandemic, according to Field Trip Health’s First Annual “State of Mind” Survey

The survey conducted by YouGov Plc found that:

• More than 8 in 10 Americans report showing symptoms of depression
• Many are turning to different substances and vices to cope
• Women are bearing the brunt of the fallout worse than men
• But close to 1 in 2 would try or be interested in learning more about psychedelic therapies for their mental health

NEW YORK, May 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Field Trip Health Ltd. (CSE: FTRP, OTCQX: FTRPF) (“Field Trip”) today announced the results of a survey commissioned by Field Trip and conducted by YouGov Plc to look into the state of mental and emotional health in the US.  After nearly 15 months of rolling global lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is to no one's surprise that the survey results show a nation in the depths of a mental health crisis.  

Key Findings On Current Mental Health: Depressed and Unaware

The survey found that over eight in ten (81%) Americans reported at least one symptom of depression and close to half of Americans reported symptoms of mild or more severe depression according to validated depression metrics. Interestingly, even though these measures indicate a nation suffering with mental health challenges, 76% of respondents self-identified their mental health as “good” or better, suggesting a disconnect with one's self-perceived state of mind and objective measures of mental health. 

The survey also showed that the impact of the pandemic is not being borne equally:  

• Women are more likely than men to indicate negative mental states (with 24% describing their current mental health as either poor or fair, compared to 18% of men); and
• Younger Americans are also more likely to rate their mental health as poor or fair:
  • 31% of 18-24 year olds 
  • 28% of 25-34 year olds
  • 23% of 35-49 year olds
  • 17% of 50-64 year olds 
  • 10% of 65+ year olds
    

The negative feelings Americans are feeling are so severe that in the two weeks prior to this survey alone, nearly 1 in 4 Americans (24%) indicated that they have felt that they would be better off dead or thought of injuring themselves. 

The survey also found that of all respondents, people in the Black community were the most likely to not demonstrate any symptoms of depression (27%) relative to Whites and Latinos (19% each). 

Coping Mechanisms

Not surprisingly, the survey found that Americans have turned to a number of different coping mechanisms to deal with the negative thoughts or emotions, with drugs and vices being a key source of respite for many. 

In particular: 

• Alcohol. One out of 5 adults have used alcohol as a coping mechanism, and of those 37% reported increased consumption of alcohol since the start of the pandemic.  
• Porn. 17% of men have used porn as a coping mechanism, and of those one in 3 (34%) reported increased use of porn since the COVID-19 crisis began.
• Overeating. 25% of adults reported overeating as a coping mechanism, including 30% of women. Further, in the past year, there has been a 56% increase in overeating as a coping method with one out of 4 people experiencing significant weight gain. 
• Prescription Medication. 20% of respondents reported turning to prescription medications, with White people being over 2x more likely to have utilized prescription medications than people in the Black community (24% vs. 11%). 23% of respondents of those who used prescription medications as a coping mechanism reported an increase in use of prescription medicine since the start of the pandemic. If a person lost a family member, they were 30% more likely to have increased use of prescription medicine (26% vs. 20%) and if they lost a friend, 45% more likely (29% vs. 20%).
• Opioids. More than one in 10 (12%) of Americans between 25 - 34 reported having used opioids to cope. 20% of those between 25 - 49 who have used opioids to cope report increased use of opioids since the pandemic began.
• Gambling. Of those who’ve ever used gambling as a coping mechanism, more than one in 4 (27%) reported an increase since the start of the pandemic.

What We Are Willing to Do To Feel Better

Despite much of the doom and gloom reflected in the survey, there was one silver lining: more people are willing to rely on professional support to help support their mental health. Specifically: 

• 42% of Americans are likely to seek a therapist to support their mental health
• 17% reported having received a mental illness diagnosis from a medical professional since March 2020.
  • Anxiety (8%) being the leading diagnosis within that time.
• People are relying on therapy more, with:
  • 24% reporting an increase in outpatient therapy 
  • 17% reporting an increase in in-patient therapy

And even though 70% of Americans reported never having tried psychedelics, 37% would support the use of psychedelic-assisted therapies after a description of the process, 24% would be open to trying psychedelic therapies, with an additional 23% curious to learn more about it.

“We didn’t need to commission a survey to show that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a mental health crisis globally. But what we found surprising was just how acute it has become, which confirms that all of us -- from health care providers to politicians to each of us individually -- need to respond to it in a thoughtful, conscious and proactive way,” said Ronan Levy, Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Field Trip. “It also confirmed to us that psychedelics are poised to play an integral role in how we respond to this challenge. With over a third of Americans expressing interest or openness to these safe psychedelic therapies, along with the continuing body of evidence, such the recent studies published by The New England Journal of Medicine and Nature Medicine showing that they are as good, and very likely orders of magnitude better, than conventional treatments, a psychedelic revolution in mental health seems near. Field Trip will be there to provide the infrastructure and next generation psychedelic medicines to make that possible.” 

With 6 locations operating (Toronto, New York, LA, Chicago, Atlanta and Houston), and 6 more under construction (Amsterdam, San Diego, San Carlos, Seattle, Washington DC and Fredericton), Field Trip Health has become one of the largest providers of psychedelic therapies in the world with clinics.

Survey Methodology

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2134 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 16th - 20th April 2021.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18+).

About Field Trip Health Ltd.

Field Trip is a global leader in the development and delivery of psychedelic therapies. With our Field Trip Discovery division leading the development of the next generation of psychedelic molecules and conducting advanced research on plant-based psychedelics and our Field Trip Health division building centers for psychedelic therapies opening across North America and Europe along with the digital and technological tools that will enable massive scale, we help people in need with a simple, evidence-based way to heal and heighten engagement with the world.

Learn more at https://www.meetfieldtrip.com, https://www.fieldtriphealth.com and https://www.fieldtriphealth.nl.

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For further information, contact Ronan Levy, Executive Chairman and a Director at Field Trip, at 1 (833) 833-1967.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information.

This release includes forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws regarding Field Trip and its business, which may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to Field Trip’s intended use of proceeds from the Offering. Often but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "expect", "intends", "anticipated", "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements are based on the current expectations and views of future events of the management of Field Trip, and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Although the management of Field Trip believes that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting the companies, including risks regarding the COVID-19 epidemic, the medical clinic industry, market conditions, economic factors, management's ability to manage and to operate the business and the equity markets generally. Although Field Trip has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements or information. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Field Trip does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange, nor its Regulation Services Provider, nor the OTC Markets have approved the contents of this release or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Media contacts:

Rachel Moskowitz
Autumn Communications
202-276-7881
press@fieldtriphealth.com

Nick Opich / McKenna Miller
KCSA Strategic Communications
212-896-1206 / 347-487-6197
press@fieldtriphealth.com

Investor contacts:

Elizabeth Barker
KCSA Strategic Communications
212-896-1203
ebarker@kcsa.com

SOURCE Field Trip Health Ltd.