The devastating mental health impact of needing to use food banks

In November and December last year, I spent time in food banks in London and Kent talking to people about the circumstances that had led to them needing food aid and the impact this was having on their mental health. I drew on my experience as both a researcher and writer on social policy issues and as a mental health social worker in frontline NHS services.

In a new report, published this week with the Independent Food Aid Network and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, I describe and reflect on what I heard.

Although people described a wide range of social and economic issues they were facing, the fundamental problem was that their income (primarily from benefits but in some cases combined with wages) was simply not enough to make ends meet.

This situation had been exacerbated by the recent removal of the £20-a-week Covid uplift to Universal Credit and the rising cost of food and fuel. Intertwined problems such as poor quality housing and outstanding debts added further stress and worry. Systems that were supposed to be sources of support often felt as though they were making life harder.

Everyone I spoke to had worked in the past – some had occasional or part-time work and others spoke about trying to find a job. Many people faced additional barriers to employment, such as health issues or caring responsibilities, and even those who found work described it as poorly paid and insecure.

People described being so overwhelmed by the day-to-day challenge of trying to get by on such low incomes, that it felt almost impossible to look to the future and take steps that might help to improve their circumstances.

Given the stress and worry people were experiencing as a result of their low incomes, and the material hardship they were enduring, it was not surprising to hear that many were struggling with their mental health. Even those people who didn’t see themselves as having mental health problems often described issues that indicated poor mental health.

Many people were clear that the difficult circumstances they were facing had caused or exacerbated mental health problems, sometimes to the point of them feeling suicidal.

Since these interviews took place, the cost-of-living has continued to rapidly increase. In April, inflation could exceed 7%, and yet benefits are due to be uprated by just 3.1%. 

A range of long-term solutions are needed to address poverty and poor mental health. However, if the gap between people’s income and the cost of meeting their basic needs is allowed to continue growing, more and more people will find themselves forced to turn to food banks for support. Given the distress being in this situation clearly causes, it is something the government must avoid at all costs.

In the long run, we need an economy that provides more people with adequate income through secure employment. But the social security system needs to ensure people can meet their basic costs when they are unemployed or unable to work.