May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we want to take the opportunity to recognize the significant links between mental health and food insecurity.  

In Metro Detroit, around one in six individuals experience food insecurity, meaning they don’t have consistent access to sufficient, nutritious food for themselves and their households. We likely all know the feeling of hunger pains and how groggy we can feel if we miss a meal; when you’re food insecure, you not only experience those sensations on a more regular basis, but you’re more likely to experience intense anxiety, stress, depression, and emotional instability because of it.   

According to the 2024 article “Nourishing the Mind: How Food Security Influences Mental Wellbeing” from the National Library of Medicine, “food insecurity is considered a psychosocial stressor.” That means inconsistent access to sufficient food negatively impacts mental health, and it does so through multiple, interrelated avenues.

Constantly worrying about how you’re going to feed yourself or your family is undeniably stressful, and food insecurity doesn’t happen in a vacuum. If you’re struggling to keep enough food on the table, it’s likely because you’re also contending with the income gap, unemployment or underemployment, medical bills, or another source of socioeconomic hardship. One thing compounds on another, and you’re left in a state of ever-present anxiety about how you’re going to make it from one week to the next.  

Food insecurity can also be isolating. The stigma surrounding charitable food assistance prevents many from seeking help in the first place, and if help is sought out, many don’t want their friends and family to know they’re struggling. Feelings of shame can cause one to alienate themselves, thus removing another needed resource for mental wellness: community.  

The right nutritional balance for your needs is another significant player in mental health. Protein and the fiber we get from produce and grains, for example, provide many of the nutrients our bodies need to sustain energy throughout the day and maintain a healthy gut biome, both of which impact our cognition levels and mood. Our gut and our brain are intricately linked, so when our diet and nutrition suffer, our brains are less resourced and have to work harder to keep us going.  

The National Council for Mental Wellbeing states that more than 30 million people in the U.S. lack access to high-quality and comprehensive mental health care. Dealing with mental health conditions also makes it more difficult to navigate the often complex health care systems that are available. And if you’re busy worrying about how you’ll feed your kids dinner on top of it, you likely don’t even have the energy to try.

At Forgotten Harvest, we work very hard to make nutritious food as accessible as possible to as many of our neighbors in need as possible. We know a full belly won’t solve every problem, but it certainly makes it easier to start.

We want to foster a community empowered in our holistic well-being, including both mental and physical wellness, as individuals and a collective. Your engagement in our organization’s work ensures we can continue driving awareness and support for our neighbors by rescuing nutritious surplus food for free distribution in Metro Detroit’s neighborhoods—replacing at least one worry on our neighbors’ plates with something that fills them up instead.

If you’re able, please visit our volunteer page or donate page to get involved. Thank you for helping us along the way to a healthier, happier Metro Detroit.