How Food Insecurity Connects to Mental Health – 2026

It is commonly known that food insecurity and chronic hunger can have an effect on our physical health, causing various diseases and health concerns. Something that is less talked about is how insecurity can play a huge role in our overall wellbeing and mental health. With mental health awareness continuing to rise over the past couple of years, it is important to discuss how hunger can change the way we think.

One of the most common psychological impacts of food insecurity is depression. The uncertainty of finding the next meal or receiving adequate nutrients can lead to stress and anxiety, ultimately putting an individual at a higher risk for depression. The uncertainty of having reliable access to food is an extremely stressful situation. When an individual is struggling with inadequate food access, there can also be other factors at play, such as unemployment, low income, poverty, and more. A combination of food insecurity and other struggles a person may face can take a huge toll on their wellbeing.

It has also been shown that food insecurity can lead to increased health care utilization. Studies have shown that there is a correlation between food insecurity and psychiatric crises. Many individuals struggling with hunger have had psychiatric emergency room visits. Additionally, it has been shown that individuals with existing mental illnesses are also more likely to experience food insecurity. It is estimated that adults living with mental illness are three more likely to experience food insecurity.

To understand this first-hand, I got to talk to our Client Services Coordinator, Erin, who was able to provide me with a new perspective on this topic. Since Erin works directly with clients, she sees and hears about the hardships they go through and how they are affected by them every day. One of the first things she brought up was Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. When the basic needs on the hierarchy are not being met, people become more susceptible to vulnerabilities.

Another great point that Erin mentioned was how when someone is food insecure, it is hard to focus on other challenges, such as mental health. When someone doesn’t even know where their next meal is coming from, it is not their top priority to seek counseling or see a doctor.

Erin shared a touching story with me about a client who experienced this firsthand. This individual was going through hardships and received food assistance from Yad Ezra along with hygiene products. Since he was able to get groceries and essential products provided to him, that was one less thing he had to worry about. He was then able to focus his energy on finding a job, and now he is flourishing in his career.

Stories like this remind us that addressing food insecurity goes beyond providing meals – it gives people the stability they need to focus on other aspects of their lives, including their mental health, employment, and overall wellness. By providing individuals and families with a reliable food source and access to nutritious food, we are helping to create opportunities for them to thrive and build brighter futures.

References

412 Food Rescue . (2025, May 14). Food insecurity is a mental health crisis—let’s treat it like one – 412 Food Rescue. 412 Food Rescue . https://412foodrescue.org/food-insecurity-is-a-mental-health-crisis-lets-treat-it-like-one/

Abeldt M.D., B. (2024, December 6). The relationship between food insecurity and Mental Health | American Journal of Psychiatry Residents’ Journal. Psychiatry Online. https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp-rj.2024.200206