Mental Health Week, 5-12 October 2024, reminds everyone that mental health is just as important as physical health and encourages proactive care for a healthier, happier life.
“This Mental Health Week we want to remind everyone of how closely food insecurity and mental health are intertwined,” Kate O'Hara, Foodbank WA CEO, said.
With rising cost of living affecting Western Australians from all walks of life, the need for relief is more prominent than ever. “We are working hard to make food one less thing people need to worry about,” she said.
Foodbank WA works to reduce the stress and anxiety associated with not being able to afford skyrocketing costs – bills, groceries, rent, mortgage payments, and other basic living costs like school fees and medical bills – by providing immediate access to food.
“When people have their basic need for food met, they can focus on other areas of their life, such as finding employment, securing stable housing, or seeking mental health support, rather than being consumed by the stress of survival,” Ms O'Hara said.
The charity plays a crucial role in supporting the mental health of Western Australians by addressing both the physical and emotional challenges that come with food insecurity and supporting people with access to nutritious choices.
“We also ensure we operate within community settings where individuals are treated with dignity and respect. This sense of being supported and valued can improve self-esteem and reduce feelings of isolation and shame, which often accompany food insecurity. We prioritise dignity and offer a welcoming and stigma-free environment – where our customers feel less ashamed about needing assistance,” Ms O’Hara explained.
Foodbank WA can support people to improve their mental health through the provision of healthy food choices for people needing food relief – with research showing a diet higher in a wide range of fruits, vegetables, legumes, wholegrains and fish help reduce the risk of and improve depressive symptoms.
Foodbank WA provides nutrition education programs to Western Australians.
“Recognising that a healthy, balanced diet is becoming increasingly unaffordable for Western Australians, we have transitioned to providing free fruit and vegetables to our registered customers over the past few months,” Ms O’Hara said.
Foodbank WA has provided 1,273,375 kilograms of fruit to charity partners, schools and directly to households. This equates to 37 per cent of its overall food distribution total.
The charity also collaborates with other organisations, offering assistance beyond food. “Due to the big increase in the demand for our services, we now have a financial support worker from the Financial Wellbeing Collective at the Perth Airport site to assist customers with their needs onsite, five days a week,” Ms O’Hara said.
Whether in person, or over the phone, when individuals reach out for food assistance, the financial support worker who assesses the individuals’ needs can also refer them to supportive services they require such as housing support, job training, financial counselling, and healthcare services.
“By relieving the burden of food costs, we can help individuals redirect their limited financial resources toward other critical areas, such as healthcare, therapy, or even stress-reducing activities,” Ms O’Hara said.
By Hearts and Minds
