The cumulative impact of poverty and inequality have a devastating impact on mental health. In addition, the effect of food insecurity and hunger on mental health can be searing and long lasting. According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, children experiencing hunger are more likely to experience chronic stress, anxiety, and depression, and hunger in adolescents is associated with higher rates of depressive disorders and suicide. The impact on parents is especially staggering: mothers with school-aged children who face severe hunger are 56.2% more likely to have PTSD, and are 53.1% more likely to have severe depression. Mental illness can make it difficult to navigate our nation’s already fragmented social safety net, trapping families in a vicious cycle of poverty and generational trauma. The economic and social upheaval caused by the recent pandemic has exacerbated the issue and has caused millions of new Americans to go hungry – leaving an indelible mark on the mental health of children and families.
Hatcher Station Health Center; DART Train stops directly in front of Health Center; you can catch the train at the Buckner or Lake June Stations.