Rising Food Insecurity in Canada: The Impact of Economic Strain on Mental Health and Well-Being

Household food insecurity, defined as inadequate or uncertain access to food due to financial limitations, is a significant public health issue in Canada. It adversely affects physical, mental, and social well-being and imposes substantial costs on the healthcare system.

Food insecurity issues have increased substantially in the past few years. The COVID-19 pandemic has strongly been linked to excessive stress, depression and anxiety due to underlying financial loss and economic disparities leaving lasting damage to public health.

Studies show that during the pandemic, households experiencing food insecurity were significantly more likely to report poor mental health outcomes compared to food-secure households. For example, a study in Canada found that individuals in food-insecure households had two to three times higher odds of reporting moderate or severe anxiety symptoms, even after accounting for sociodemographic factors and

the financial impacts of the pandemic​ (Polsky & Gilmour, 2020).

Furthermore, the use of third-party resources like food banks saw a significant increase following the pandemic. Food-insecure households, particularly those with single parents or those dependent on benefits, were impacted most (Szklarski, 2024). As a result, these groups experienced heightened mental health challenges, struggling with the chronic stress of financial and food insecurity.

● A report carried by the Daily Bread Food Bank had observed 76% of individuals who began using food banks during COVID-19 did so due to job losses or reduced working hours.

Additionally, in Canada, with inflation raising food prices, housing costs are driving food insecurity to unprecedented levels. In March 2024, food bank visits surged to over 2 million, nearly double the number from 2019. This crisis particularly affects vulnerable groups, including low-income families, renters, and marginalized communities, with one-third of food bank clients being children (Szklarski, 2024).

While interventions like food banks and food stamps have been implemented, they are not a comprehensive solution. To effectively support low-income households and individuals facing food insecurity, we must address both the immediate need and the long-term economic challenges that can contribute to poorer mental health outcomes.

Resources:

Fang, D., Thomsen, M. R., Nayga, R. M. (2021). The association between food insecurity and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Public Health, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10631-0

Polsky, J. Y. Gilmour, H. (2020, December 16). This study assessed the association between household food insecurity and self-perceived mental health status and anxiety symptoms among Canadians in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Food insecurity and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-003-

x/2020012/article/00001-eng.htm

Szklarski, C. (2024, October 28). Calgary food bank demand surges 200 per cent from pre-pandemic levels.

Calgary. https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/calgary-food-bank-demand-surges-200-per-cent-from- pre-pandemic-levels-1.7089341

The impact of food insecurity on Mental Health. The Impact of Food Insecurity on Mental Health | Blog |Daily Bread. (n.d.). https://www.dailybread.ca/blog/food-insecurity-and-mental-health-3/