Food insecurity—limited access to nutritious food—is a powerful determinant of mental health, directly linked to depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric disorders.¹ Nutrients, such as those in omega-3 fatty acids and folic acid, are implicated in mood regulation.² Food insecurity exacerbates the physiological and psychological effects of existing mental health conditions.

Clinical Relevance

• Studies show that food insecurity is associated with poorer mental health outcomes, particularly among children and adolescents.³
• In 2021, 33.8 million U.S. individuals experienced food insecurity.²
• Malnutrition impairs cognitive function and emotional regulation, contributing to mood disorders and behavior issues.¹
• Food insecurity is significantly associated with increased risk of major depressive disorder (MDD).⁴

Economic Impact

• Food insecurity has a direct economic cost by increasing healthcare utilization and extending the duration of mental health symptoms, which leads to higher healthcare spending.²
• For example, food-insecure children are more likely to experience higher mental health treatment costs as they transition into adulthood.⁵

Policy and Programs

• The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Meals on Wheels are critical programs that alleviate food insecurity and improve mental health outcomes for low-income individuals.
• Community strategies to reduce food and nutrition insecurity include advocating for optimal federal and state legislation and policies regarding food and nutrition, promoting food banks and “food is medicine” initiatives, and supporting programs that offer opportunities to access affordable healthy foods.⁴
• Expanding these services helps mitigate the adverse mental health effects of inadequate nutrition.⁶

Avenues of Intervention

• For Psychiatrists: Routinely inquire about food security during intake assessments and connect patients to food assistance programs.² Economic Impact
• For Individuals: Advocate for community gardens or local food cooperatives that promote access to nutritious food.⁷
• For Organizations: Collaborate with local organizations to integrate food security screening into psychiatric care.⁵

References

1. American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Report of the Presidential Task Force on the Social Determinants of Mental Health (.pdf). In American Psychiatric Association.
2. Compton, M. T. (2023). Food and Nutrition Insecurity: A Social Determinant Hungry for Attention by Mental Health Professionals. Psychiatric Services, 74(12), 1303–1306. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.20220511
3. Llamocca, E. N., Steelesmith, D. L., Ruch, D. A., Bridge, J. A., & Fontanella, C. A. (2022). Association Between Social Determinants of Health and Deliberate Self-Harm Among Youths With Psychiatric Diagnoses. Psychiatric Services, 74(6), 574–580. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.20220180
4. Alon, N., Macrynikola, N., Jester, D. J., Keshavan, M., Reynolds, C. F., 3rd, Saxena, S., Thomas, M. L., Torous, J., & Jeste, D. V. (2024). Social determinants of mental health in major depressive disorder: Umbrella review of 26 meta-analyses and systematic reviews. Psychiatry research, 335, 115854. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115854
5. Shim, R. S., & Compton, M. T. (2020). The Social Determinants of Mental Health: Psychiatrists’ Roles in Addressing Discrimination and Food Insecurity. FOCUS the Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry, 18(1), 25–30. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20190035
6. Bernardini, F., Attademo, L., Rotter, M., & Compton, M. T. (2021). Social Determinants of Mental Health As Mediators and Moderators of the Mental Health Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Psychiatric Services, 72(5), 598–601. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.202000393
7. Salzer, M. S. (2021). Community Inclusion and Social Determinants: From Opportunity to Health. Psychiatric Services, 72(7), 836–839. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.202000394