Food insecurity taking huge toll on mental health, report finds

People with mental illness are twice as likely to be living in a household struggling with food insecurity compared to those without, a report by the Food Foundation has revealed.   

The food equality charity surveyed 6,177 adults in June and July. They found that 28% of those living with a mental health condition find it difficult to put food on the table, compared to 11% of people without mental illness.  

The research shows how mental health, poverty and food insecurity are deeply linked.  

More than three-quarters (78%) of participants said that being unable to access food increased their anxiety. Most (68%) said food insecurity led to greater depression, and a similar number said it increased stress. 

Those with poor mental health are more likely to be in low-paid jobs, work part-time, or rely on welfare benefits.  

The report states families across the UK are stuck in a cycle of poverty, food insecurity and poor mental health that is “difficult to break out of”. 

Food insecurity is also linked to physical illness, and other areas of life, such as difficulties focusing at work and causing a strain on relationships.  

Shona Goudie, policy and advocacy manager at the Food Foundation, described the survey’s findings as “devastating”.  

“The stress and depression that the toll of not having secure access to an essential need like food takes on people is unimaginable. For adults, this can affect their ability to work making it impossible to break out of poverty, and for children, it can give them lifelong issues with food impacting on their physical and mental health,” said Goudie.  

What is food insecurity?  

The Food Foundation defines food insecurity as a household that does not have “reliable access to sufficient quantities of nutritious, affordable food”.   

An earlier survey carried out by the charity found that 14% of households in the UK – 7.2 million adults and 2.7 million children – experienced food insecurity in June.  

Time for action 

The Food Foundation is urging the government to urgently review the impact food insecurity has on mental health.  

In July, the government announced a child poverty taskforce to oversee the development of a cross-government child poverty strategy. Keir Starmer said the taskforce would “address the root causes of poverty”.  

The government has said they plan to give mental health the same focus and attention as physical health, promising to recruit 8,500 new mental health staff in their first term. 

Labour has also committed to providing access to specialist mental health professionals in every school and establish Young Futures hubs, providing open access mental health services for children and young people in every community. 

If you’re struggling 

If you’re struggling to afford food or other living essentials, and your income is no longer covering your outgoings, get in touch to find out what help’s available. We can check you’re claiming all the benefits you’re entitled to as well as help you create a budget. 

We’ve also put together some tips on how to cut the cost of your supermarket shop.