Anxiety, depression, high stress levels and self-harm are among the mental health impacts reported by those without reliable access to food in UK
People in UK households facing food insecurity are more than twice as likely to be living with a mental health condition.
This is the central finding of a new report from The Food Foundation, which found that 28 per cent of respondents experiencing food insecurity have a mental health condition compared to 10.7% of those without. Children appear to be worst affected.
The food policy charity revealed that there were 7.2 million adults and 2.7 million children living in households experiencing food insecurity in June 2024.
Those suffering from food insecurity said not having reliable access to food increased their anxiety (72 per cent), depression (67 per cent), and stress levels (66 per cent), as well as causing them to worry about the effects on their physical health (71 per cent) and mental health (67 per cent).
The Food Foundation concluded that “families across the UK are stuck in a cycle of poverty, food insecurity and poor mental health that it is hard to break out of, with children particularly affected”.
The charity is calling on the government to ensure its recently announced Child Poverty Taskforce addresses the damage being done to children’s mental and physical health caused by food insecurity.
Additionally, the foundation is pushing for the government to extend nutritional safety nets such as Free School Meals and Healthy Start to minimise the impact on UK children.
Ambassador for The Food Foundation, Dame Emma Thompson, said: “The fact that so many of our children are being forced to live in poverty and facing food insecurity is shocking.
“The long-term impact on their health, mental wellbeing, happiness, and life outcomes will be devastating. We need government to do everything they can to prioritise feeding the future of this country.
“I hope that the recently announced Child Poverty Taskforce listens directly to the young people who have been affected to understand what will truly make a difference to their lives. And they find a way to make that difference.”
Food insecurity has a particularly negative impact on young people. Some 31 per cent of food-insecure children feel stressed or worried every day, compared to 10 per cent of food-secure children.
Food insecurity is also linked to higher rates of self-harm, anxiety disorders and suicidal thoughts among young people.
Of particular concern is that the prevalence of mental health problems in young people has increased by 50 per cent in just five years – from 12 per cent in 2017 to 18 per cent in 2022. And mental health is one of the main cuases of absenteeism among school pupils.
School leaders have warned that “desperate” poverty is driving problems with mental health and attendance among students. Hungry children are more prone to behavioural problems and educational attainment is often impacted.
Policy and advocacy manager at The Food Foundation, Shona Goudie said: “Labour expressed ambitions to “overhaul” the approach to mental health in this country. This briefing clearly demonstrates that preventing food insecurity should be a key part of this new approach.”
