Canadian pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing provider, Inagene
Diagnostics Inc., has partnered with Student Assistance Program
provider Aspiria Corp., a CloudMD company, to provide
post-secondary students with more personalized mental health
support as they return to school this fall. The pandemic-driven
mental health “echo pandemic” has significantly hit Canadian youth
and after more than a year of uncertainty, social isolation and
missed milestones at home, students need access to the right
support tools to succeed both academically and personally in the
coming, critical years of their lives.
“Students are returning to in-person or hybrid learning
following a 17-month long period of stress, with many facing new or
worsening symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD),” said Eric Rubel, Vice President, Clinical
Experience at Aspiria Corp. “Together with Inagene, we can offer
students a clearer path to the treatment of these conditions,
providing both the tools and resources they need to better manage
their mental health. Expanding our services to offer PGx testing
helps us ensure that we are providing students with effective,
personalized care to help speed recovery.”
Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of
positive screens for major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety
disorder, and probable PTSD reached record levels, and were over
three times higher among young adults than among older adults.1 If
not treated quickly and effectively, students can soon find
themselves in a discouraging downward spiral of worsening symptoms,
medication “trial and error,” and troublesome side effects, all of
which can negatively impact academic performance. Poor medication
experiences can also drive treatment adherence issues and present
the risk of students resorting to self-medicating with street drugs
or alcohol. With reports of record suicide attempts and substance
abuse issues fueled by the pandemic,2 many parents are particularly
concerned as their children return to school or leave home for
university this fall.
Every individual is unique in how they respond to different
medications. Studies show that up to two out of three individuals
fail the first treatment prescribed for mental health conditions
like depression and anxiety, leaving them spending weeks, months or
even years in a cycle of “trial and error” with multiple drugs and
doses.2 “But with innovations in genetic testing, this doesn’t have
to be the case,” said Nancy White, CEO of Inagene Diagnostics Inc.
“With PGx testing, students can gain insight into which medications
will be most compatible with their DNA. The test report acts as a
personalized roadmap of which drugs and doses are likely to work
best and which to avoid, enabling more targeted and personalized
treatment.”
“Youth struggling with depression and anxiety coming out of a
tough year deserve the best chance for a speedy recovery,” says
White. “A personalized treatment plan can make the difference
between a schoolyear spent struggling with ongoing symptoms and
side effects, and doctor visits, or a year spent focusing on
re-connecting with friends and achieving academic success.”
Aspiria takes a personalized approach to student assistance
programs and counselling services, starting with an extensive
assessment process that tailors the plan to each individual
student, matching them with a therapist in less than 5 business
days. Incorporating PGx testing to complement Aspiria’s counselling
services further enhances the personalized approach, helping to get
to the right, holistic treatment plan faster to speed recovery.
To learn more about pharmacogenetic testing, visit
inagene.com
To learn more about Aspiria and Employee (EAP) and Student (SAP)
Assistance Programs, visit aspiria.ca
About Inagene Diagnostics Inc.Inagene™
Diagnostics Inc. is a CLIA accredited Canadian pharmacogenetic
testing company located in Toronto. Inagene’s Personalized
Insights™ tests focus on providing comprehensive and reliable
genetic tests to guide drug selection and treatment. Learn more at
www.inagene.com
About Aspira Corp.Established in 2003, Aspiria
Corp. is a mental health solution-based company that provides
Employee and Student Assistance Services to over 750 organizations
in the employer and education sectors. Servicing over 1 million
employees, students, and families, Aspiria is known for its quality
services, excellent customer service, and high value it provides to
its clients. Learn more at www.aspiria.ca
About CloudMD Software & ServicesCloudMD
(TSXV:DOC) is revolutionizing the delivery of healthcare by
providing a patient-centric approach, with an emphasis on
continuity of care. By leveraging healthcare technology, the
Company is building one, connected platform that addresses all
points of a patient’s healthcare journey and provides better access
to care and improved outcomes. Through CloudMD’s proprietary
technology, the Company delivers quality healthcare through a
holistic offering including hybrid primary care clinics, specialist
care, telemedicine, mental health support, educational resources
and artificial intelligence (AI). CloudMD’s Enterprise Health
Solutions Division includes one of the top 4 Employee Assistance
Programs in Canada and offers one comprehensive, digitally
connected platform for corporations, insurers and advisors to
better manage the health and wellness of their employees and
customers. CloudMD currently services a combined ecosystem of over
7,000 psychiatrists, approximately 4,500 therapists and
counsellors, approximately 4,000 psychologists, over 22,000 family
physicians, over 34,000 medical specialists, over 1,500 allied
health professionals, over 500 clinics, and over 5 million
individuals across North America. Learn more
at: https://investors.cloudmd.ca
Note to Editors:For further information please
contact:Samantha Campana, Agnosticscampana@thinkagnostic.com
1) https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/210318/dq210318a-eng.htm
2) Trivedi MH, Rush AJ, Wisniewski SR, Nierenberg AA, Warden
D, Ritz L, et al. Evaluation of outcomes with citalopram for
depression using measurement-based care in STAR*D: implications for
clinical practice. Am J Psychiatry. 2006; 163:28–40
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