The emotional toll of hunger can be felt the deepest.
There is a complex relationship between food insecurity and mental health. For many neighbors, the impact of food insecurity reaches far beyond an empty stomach. Households that are chronically food insecure have higher levels of distress.
That distress can manifest in various ways.
Nervousness, hopelessness, worthlessness, and depression are a few symptoms those facing hunger experience. These outcomes are as damaging as the physical consequences of hunger.
Food insecurity is one of the strongest predictors of mental health outcomes. It has a deeper impact than housing, job, or income insecurity.
The stress of not knowing where your next meal is a heavy burden to bear.
Chris has faced more challenges than most of us could imagine. Chris lives with PTSD, agoraphobia, and struggles with panic attacks.
Everyday tasks, like grocery shopping, feel impossible to Chris.
He worked in construction until 2012, but, today, can’t work anymore. He relies on a very fixed income to get by.
There are weeks when oatmeal and iced tea are all he has.
Chris depends on the support of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. Consistent access to nutritious food lifts a heavy emotional burden.
“This is my lifesaver,” Chris says. “If it wasn’t for this food, I don’t know what I would do.”
Food insecurity often goes hand-in-hand with anxiety, depression, and chronic stress. The emotional toll of hunger can be deadly.
Food can be the first step toward healing.
At Second Harvest, we know behind every meal is a person. For Chris, each meal is a reminder that his community sees him, values him, and wants him to thrive.