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RESEARCH WEEKLY: Food Insecurity Among People with Serious Mental Illness
By Morré Taylor
(December 21, 2022) Food insecurity refers to the condition in which access to nutritional food is limited or uncertain. According to the U.S Department of Agriculture, in 2019, 13.7 million U.S. households experienced food insecurity. Several populations within the U.S experience disproportionately high rates of food insecurity, such as single-parent households, people living at or below the federal poverty level and people with disabilities, including those with serious mental illness. Food insecurity is the byproduct of another phenomenon called food deserts, which refers to geographic areas in which low-income residents experience economic and physical barriers to accessing healthy food options.
The consequence of living in an area with low quality food options is a poor diet that can trigger health-related conditions such as obesity, diabetes and mental health issues, like depression. As such, those populations who are more susceptible to food insecurity and living in a food desert may be especially vulnerable to related health adversities. A recent study published in the Community Mental Health Journal aims to determine the prevalence of food insecurity and likelihood of living in a food desert for people with serious mental illness.
Study Details
300 participants with psychotic and mood disorders were recruited from five community mental health agencies throughout Washington, D.C. Between April and October of 2013, participants were given a survey designed by the U.S Department of Agriculture and Economic Research Service about their experiences with food insecurity, responding to statements such as “I couldn’t afford to eat balanced meals [within the last 12 months].” A second survey was administered that asked participants about their food intake to help researchers understand the nutritional value of participants’ diet. Demographic data in addition to whether participant received SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits was also gathered.
Results
69% of participants had recently experienced food insecurity. For comparison, the prevalence of food insecurity nationally is approximately 14% and 13% in Washington, D.C., meaning that this sample of people with serious mental illness was about 5 times more likely to experience food insecurity than the general population. Additionally, 47% of participants had “very low food security” which is defined as the existence of multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake. Comparatively, this phenomenon is only experienced by 5.4% of people nationally and 4.8% of people in Washington D.C. Lastly, half of participants lived in a food desert. Although, researchers found that living in a food desert was not associated with having food insecurity, it was associated severe and morbid obesity.
Policy implications
These findings indicate that people with serious mental illness face major obstacles accessing healthy food and as a result may face various health issues. Experiences of food insecurity result from a multifaceted structural issue that is at the intersect of social and economic oppression. Furthermore, it is a significant stressor for a population that already struggles with things like employment, discrimination and access to treatment, thus emphasizing the need for public health policy that pays attention to food insecurity as a social condition that affects the physical and mental health of people with serious mental illness.
References
Compton, M. T., & Ku, B. S. (July 2022). Prevalence of Food Insecurity and Living in a Food Desert among Individuals with Serious Mental Illnesses in Public Mental Health Clinics. Community Mental Health Journal.
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