intergenerational trauma and nutrition and food

We’ll also examine how key investments in the social determinants of health could make it easier for people struggling with mental health challenges to access life-sustaining resources and help address the deeply-rooted traumas associated with the experience of food insecurity. In this session, we will explore chronic stress, stigma, and the multi-faceted impacts of hunger on a person’s mental and emotional wellbeing. The economic and social upheaval caused by the recent pandemic has exacerbated the issue and has caused millions of new Americans to go hungry – leaving an indelible mark on the mental health of children and families

Mental illness can make it difficult to navigate our nation’s already fragmented social safety net, trapping families in a vicious cycle of poverty and generational trauma. This is referred to as intergenerational trauma, and can be passed on through parenting practices, behavioural problems, violence, harmful substance use and mental health issues. The impact on parents is especially staggering: mothers with school-aged children who face severe hunger are 56.2% more likely to have PTSD, and are 53.1% more likely to have severe depression. According to Myles, one of the main reasons for intergenerational trauma is that people don’t talk about it. According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, children experiencing hunger are more likely to experience chronic stress, anxiety, and depression, and hunger in adolescents is associated with higher rates of depressive disorders and suicide. Regardless of what approach you take, Chang. Grounding techniques: Breathing exercises can help calm my anxious thoughts.

In addition, the effect of food insecurity and hunger on mental health can be searing and long lasting. Journaling: Practicing this daily has allowed me to feel more gratitude. The cumulative impact of poverty and inequality have a devastating impact on mental health.

Intergenerational trauma and nutrition and food