Food insecurity linked to more mental health visits for young people in Canada

24 Jul 2023 --- Researchers are spotlighting a significant association between food insecurity and mental health issues in younger people. The study suggests that the experience of food insecurity can cause mental health issues in younger people even without nutrition deficits.

Published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, the study reports that nearly six million Canadians, including 1.4 million young individuals under 18, grapple with inadequate food intake due to financial challenges. The researchers also noted an increase in substance abuse disorders.

“Given the diverse mental health conditions examined, it is unlikely that the mechanism of harm is lack of specific nutrients or poor diet quality,” says Dr. Lynn McIntyre, a professor of community health sciences at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada.

“Much more likely is that food insecurity contributes to mental distress among those living in difficult circumstances, as has been shown in studies of the relationship between severity of household food insecurity and mental health disorders among adults.”

Understanding food insecurity in Canada
The study utilized data from the Canadian Community Health Survey linked to Ontario health care data. It included data from 32,321 children and adolescents between the ages of 1 and 17. Of those, 5,216 individuals (16.1%) were found to be living in households experiencing food insecurity.

The study further highlights the prevalence of food insecurity in Canada, which the authors say is a pressing and rising concern, as financial struggles hinder access to sufficient and nutritious food. Additionally, they note that such conditions have far-reaching implications for the overall well-being of children and adolescents and necessitate targeted interventions.

“Clinicians should advocate as vociferously about the need for income security for families who are food-insecure as they do for solutions to emergency departments being filled with patients who need primary health care,” says Dr. McIntyre. 

“Some jurisdictions have proposed that practitioners screen patients for financial strain and take steps to ensure that those identified as such receive their financial entitlements.”

Impact on mental health
The study’s results demonstrated a substantial impact on the mental health of children and adolescents living in food-insecure homes. They exhibited a 55% higher frequency of physician visits for mental health reasons compared to their peers with consistent access to adequate food.

Within the entire sample, 9% had outpatient interactions and 0.6% had acute care interactions related to mental health or substance use disorders. Notably, children and adolescents from food-insecure households exhibited a 55% higher prevalence of outpatient interactions. Additionally, a 74% higher prevalence of acute care visits for mental or substance use disorders was observed in this vulnerable group.

“Taken together, these findings are concerning, and we need strong public policy to support families who face food insecurity,” says Dr. Salimah Shariff, senior author and a scientist at ICES Western. “As well, public mental health strategies must be improved and targeted to youth specifically to help reduce the strain on the public mental health system.”

Addressing the challenge
The authors further emphasize the limitations of the study, as the findings may not fully represent the experiences of First Nations communities and remote regions, where food insecurity is more acute. 

Moreover, the data used in the study are from before recent events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which they say have likely exacerbated food insecurity.

The researchers highlight the urgent need for collective efforts to combat food insecurity, with a focus on alleviating its impact on the mental health of children and adolescents to help create a healthier and more resilient younger generation.

Edited by William Bradford Nichols