What is it? 

Explore how genes and environment interact to influence mental health through this engaging interactive tool designed for students and educators. Often, the influence of genes is described, while the role of the environment can remain an abstract concept. This digital simulation demonstrates our current understanding of the interplay between genes and environment using a cup of water. By allowing users to mix and match genetic risk, environmental risk, and protective factors, they can use this simulation to see that genes alone do not determine health outcomes. Instead, it is the combination of genes and environmental factors that contributes to these outcomes.

How it Works

Students will begin by selecting a starting level of genetic factors for the simulation, choosing between "very few," "moderate," and "maximum" amounts. Here, it is important for users to grasp that while everyone has genes influencing their mental wellness (and illness), individuals may have variations in these genes that can result in higher or lower genetic susceptibility to developing mental health challenges.

After choosing the level of genetic factors present, students will select from a variety of mental health-focused risk and protective factors. Some factors, like physical abuse, have a greater impact (represented by a larger ice cube), while single stressors may have a minimal effect (smaller ice cube). Implementing the protective factors increases the cup’s size, visually representing an increase in an individual's capacity or resilience to withstand the applied risk factors. This manipulation of different scenarios allows observation of the complex interplay of these non-genetic factors.

When the cumulative impact becomes too great, the cup overflows, indicating the onset of a mental health crisis. A brief description window informs the user why this occurred and suggests potential next steps for support. Once the cup overflows, users have the option to restart and re-select the level of protective genetic factors. This quick, easy-to-use activity not only demonstrates that both genes and environment play a role, but that protective factors can modify a person's risk, shifting the focus beyond just risk factors. 

Why Is This Important To Me? 

There are very few visual examples illustrating how genes and the environment interact. By visualizing this dynamic interplay, the interactive aims to demystify a complex trait like mental health and reduce stigma by fostering an understanding that mental illness is not solely due to genes (i.e., factors outside one’s control), but can be influenced by the environment and interventions, thus promoting the adaptability of our mental and physical wellbeing.

About the Creators

The Mental Health GxE Interactive was created by the education team at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), a leading authority in genomics research. This interactive may be reused, linked to, or referenced. Please credit the National Human Genome Research Institute.