By: Claire White, MS, CHES – Health Promotion Coordinator
When you envision yourself adopting a healthy lifestyle, do you picture yourself eating fruits and vegetables? Going for a walk? Or even just making it through a cold season without getting the flu? Or do you imagine yourself meditating and connecting with others? Oftentimes, when reflecting on our health, the first thing that comes to mind is our physical wellbeing. Mental health, however, can play just as significant a part in our overall wellbeing.
According to the CDC, mental health conditions, like depression, can increase the risk of chronic conditions (stroke, diabetes, heart disease) and vice versa. Risk factors for mental health challenges can be experienced at multiple levels, including social isolation, housing, healthcare, and food security. Those who are experiencing food insecurity face a nearly 40% increased risk of psychological disorders like anxiety, depression, shame, and stress – impacting women at higher rates (Ejiohuo et al., 2024). With a decreased intake of proper nutrition, an individual can experience changes in their mood, memory, and overall psychological well-being. Not only does this impact our neighbors, but our community as a whole. Ejiohuo et al. (2024) state, “Food insecurity [also] affects community mental health by straining social relationships, hindering productivity, and amplifying social tensions.”
To bring awareness and reduce the stigma around mental health, the HHTF would like to highlight the Mental Health Association of Central Florida (MHACF). MHACF is the leading community-based nonprofit committed to identifying mental illness early on and developing action plans for their patients to reach overall wellness. Within this organization, five main programs support its mission: Connections Referral Program, Outlook Clinic, Youth and Family Services, Guardian Advocate, and Reflections Peer Recovery.
Annually, this organization connects over 4,000 neighbors from our Central Florida community to free psychiatric services and resources that support their mental health, including counseling, evaluations, psychiatric services, basic needs assistance, and support groups. One client, Lucy, described her experience with MHACF not only as answering the phone but also as answering her call. She stated that being a client was like “waking up from a dark night” and that the MHACF team made her realize that it is okay to seek help when needed.
With an understanding of the impact of food insecurity on mental health, MHACF and SHFB will collaborate this summer to train their staff and interns on how to identify food needs among their patients using the Hunger Vital Sign during intake. This training will take place biannually, educating staff on how to identify food needs and what resources are available in the community for support.
Mental Health is just as important as your physical health. I encourage you to reflect on your overall health and consider a daily or weekly task that focuses on your mental health. If you or someone you know needs help, please visit https://mhacf.org/.
