Research studies have shown a strong association between food insecurity and poor mental health. In households when there isn’t enough food, it’s easy to understand the mental stress and emotional discomfort experienced by both parents and children, particularly if it occurs frequently.
A recent study conducted by McGill University found that children and adults belonging to food-insecure households have higher risks of anxiety disorder, poor mental health, mood disorder and generally a low life satisfaction in comparison to those belonging to a food-secure household.
With skyrocketing inflation, financial stress seems like a constant companion. Many of Canadians work at an hourly wage rate that doesn’t stretch far enough. Most of them are living paycheck to paycheck and trying to make ends meet. As the general cost of living has increased, many Canadians are skipping meals in order to provide for their children. There was a 7.7% surge in inflation in just a year and it is not going to stop here.
The food we eat, the nutrition we take shapes our day and lives. Getting enough daily nutrition helps our body fight against numerous diseases and strengthens our immune system. An individual, be it a child or an adult who has to worry about their next meal is constantly stressed, resulting in a lowered immune system, as well as increased anxiety, fear, depression and other mental health problems.
According to a study by Monster Canada companies lose approximately $16.6 billion in productivity each year because of workers calling in sick due to mental health problems. It is expected that this trend may continue to rise in severity, as many workers are reporting increased levels of mental health problems and higher stress and anxiety levels which directly impact the business, retention rate and productivity in a company.
Not only adults are facing absenteeism at work due to mental health problems, but it also impacts children. A child who faces hunger and food insecurity at home lays down the foundation for numerous mental health problems that result in being continuously absent from school or college. Many may end up abusing substances to temporarily mask what they are feeling.
Each day food banks like Sai Dham Food Bank and their volunteers work tirelessly to serve those in need. Sai Dham Food Bank pioneered the home delivery of groceries to seniors who could not leave their homes due to health or mobility challenges. It now serves more than 2700+ seniors, 4,000 and more homeless people are fed a warm meal and given groceries every weekend, more than 1,000 children given breakfast across 9 schools and also supports other food banks.
Sai Dham Food Bank offers multiple programs to help those struggling with food insecurity, including Seniors and the Physically Disabled Free Door delivery of Groceries Program, a Children’s Breakfast Program that serves 5000 breakfasts every week across 9 schools, an International Student Support Program where students at risk of hunger have been given free food hampers, the Homeless support program where thousands of individuals without a shelter are given a warm meal and some food, the Seniors Wellness Café that connects seniors with information, physical activity experts and is offered free of cost every weekend to help reduce isolation.
At Sai Dham Food Bank we understand how helpless one feels when they have to skip meals and we are here to serve the community 7 days a week in over 26 cities across the GTA and beyond. Visit our website to know more about the impact we are creating.
Come volunteer with us and donate to help a neighbor fight hunger. No amount is too small, it all makes a difference!
