How food affects mental health is a reminder that nourishment goes beyond the plate.
Food fuels our minds, eases stress, and supports overall well-being. That’s something especially important for people living with mental health challenges.
For Tyler, that support is necessary. He has schizophrenia, which makes managing daily stress even more difficult. Having steady access to healthy food helps him stay grounded and focus on what matters most.
He’s worked a little bit of everywhere — fast food, tree service, even as a bouncer for six months. He lives with his mom and helps pay rent and bills, doing what he can to make ends meet.
Born in California, Tyler moved to Tennessee when he was five. Since then, life has been a mix of hard work and hard times. Rising prices make everything harder. Especially food.
“This is very helpful, especially how hard times are nowadays,” Tyler said. “I never thought eggs would be more than the price of milk. Us people who are really low income — we’re struggling day-by-day living paycheck-to-paycheck trying to get better in life. Food is the light at the end of the tunnel. It helps us get by. I am so grateful to these people. Without them, I don’t know where we’d be.”
For Tyler and his family, consistent access to nutritious food provides hope, stability, and a little peace of mind. When life feels overwhelming, knowing there’s food on the table makes it easier to manage stress and focus on better days ahead.
Food affects more than physical health. It impacts how we think, how we feel, and how we cope. That’s why Second Harvest works to ensure every neighbor has the food they need to support both body and mind.