Climate crisis
Rising temperatures and extreme weather are having a huge impact on already vulnerable communities.
You can’t function as a human being if you’re struck down by trauma. If you’re suffering from mental health problems, you’re less likely to be able to earn money and eat well.
You’re also less likely to be able to look after yourself and those in your care. This can contribute to life-threatening hunger. So mental health care isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’ – it’s essential.
How does hunger affect mental health?
Hunger, conflict and natural disasters can have a huge impact on someone’s mental health. The day-in, day-out trauma, the fear of hunger, of death, of losing your family, builds up. It leaves scars. It’s debilitating. If left unaddressed, it can be overwhelming.
Impact of maternal depression
Mental health work is part of our fight against hunger. It makes sense. Imagine the life of a mother living in poverty. Every single day is a constant battle to feed her children and keep herself healthy.
Walking miles on end to find and carry water. Fleeing conflict with only the clothes she’s wearing and the children in her arms. How can a mother in these circumstances have the energy to look after herself, let alone care for her children?
Maternal mental health also plays a vital role in child health and development.
Research shows that maternal depression often leads to low child immunisation rates, reduced hospital visits and a decrease in breastfeeding. These, in turn, result in higher rates of child illness and malnutrition and badly hold back a child’s normal development.
Poor maternal mental health, particularly maternal depression, can contribute to children being underweight and stunted. And, compared to other children, infants of mothers with poor mental health have been found to have poorer physical, emotional, and mental skills.
