HDRC and York Policy Engine research links between food inequalities and mental health
Our colleagues at The York Policy Engine have researched new links between food inequalities and mental health.
Food for Thought is a five-year longitudinal mixed-methods research programme exploring food inequalities and mental health. It is funded by the Welcome Trust and based at the University of York. We are learning about people’s experiences of accessing the food they need and how this impacts their mental health, and looking at how aspects of people’s identity, such as their income, ethnicity, and gender, affect food and mental health. To do this, we are talking to people in Bradford, London, and York about the everyday struggles and challenges they are facing. We are also using large-scale, statistical data to understand how other people are impacted by trying to maintain a healthy diet on a low income.
In Bradford, we have found that many residents living on a low income are struggling to access healthy food on a regular basis. These struggles are amplified by factors such as unemployment, disabilities and health conditions, single parenthood, and ethnicity. As a result, many Bradford residents are experiencing worsened physical and mental health due to weight changes and nutrient deficiencies, as well as increased feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression.
We recommend that the following local-level action can help to reduce food insecurity in Bradford:
A cash-first approach
Food insecurity is predominantly rooted in people’s lack of income, so direct financial support such as cash payments and supermarket vouchers can help individuals buy the food they need without relying on food aid.
Keep housing affordable and safe
We have found that high housing costs are a big part of why households are struggling. We maintain that housing costs and standards must remain a key part of Bradford’s anti-poverty strategy.
Support local food aid
Community food aid provisions should be supported by local authorities to ensure culturally appropriate food is always available, and to continue to operate as welcoming spaces where individuals can socialise and be signposted to any other relevant services.
Our recent publications address food insecurity among asylum seekers nationally and in Bradford, healthcare access among asylum seekers nationally and in Bradford, and how Bradford residents have been impacted by experiences of food insecurity and accessing food aid. Forthcoming publications address food inequalities in community food aid, and the link between food insecurity and racial discrimination.