On October 10th, World Mental Health Day was commemorated to raise awareness about the importance of mental health as a fundamental axis for human well-being and development.
Mental health is one of the major global concerns, as mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression are considered to be the ailments of the 21st century. The prevalence of these conditions is sometimes underrepresented, partly because those affected may be reluctant to seek treatment, and also because, in some generations, the social stigma surrounding mental illness remains very strong. There is a significant generational gap in how people relate to their mental health, with older generations being more hesitant to ask for help, as these conditions are not seen as comparable to other physical health issues.
Moreover, the issue of mental health is extremely complex and multifactorial. One of the main areas of study in the relationship between food and mental health considers the effects of food insecurity on the experience of anxiety and depression. How can one be productive, focused, and emotionally resilient if a basic need such as food is not adequately met? How can one concentrate on developing physical and intellectual abilities without certainty about food intake the next day? How can one focus on self-improvement or personal growth if experiencing true hunger?
A study published in BMC Health evaluated food insecurity caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. It found that the risk of suffering from a mental illness, such as anxiety or depression, triples when living in food insecurity compared to losing a job. Those already vulnerable to food insecurity saw their conditions for obtaining food worsen.
Experiencing food insecurity also causes feelings of shame and guilt, which are socially manifested and make it more difficult to seek alternatives or help to resolve food insecurity. People living in food insecurity have a 257% higher risk of suffering from anxiety and a 253% higher risk of suffering from depression. These results show that the issue of food insecurity is not solved solely with food supply programs; comprehensive support is necessary for vulnerable populations, as these conditions are not necessarily resolved by providing food alone. It is also significant that, in many cases, the ongoing stress of suffering from depression or anxiety leads some people to normalize certain symptoms as part of their daily lives.
In addition to the social stigma and misinformation surrounding mental health conditions, it is a fact that treatment also requires a multifactorial intervention, which many health systems around the world are far from offering. It is extremely important to address the different variables impacting the population's mental health from early stages, as mental health conditions are predicted to become the new epidemic of the 21st century, with significant impacts on well-being, economy, security, and productivity in affected populations. Access to adequate, sufficient, and balanced nutrition should be a prerogative for everyone.
— This article was originally published in Spanish by Liliana Martínez Lomelí. Translation generated with AI from the original text.
Read in El Economista →