Three diverse communities. One common challenge.

Oct 6, 2026

African American mother consoling her sad girl at home.

Food insecurity deepens mental health challenges across vulnerable communities

When we think about food insecurity, we often think about empty cupboards or missed meals. But for many families, the harm runs much deeper. Food insecurity also erodes mental and emotional well-being, with devastating consequences for both children and parents. About 45% of our grocery gift card program recipients struggle with poor mental health.

The link between food insecurity and mental health is a vicious cycle. The more a person’s psychological health declines, the more likely they will endure food insecurity. At the same time, the more food-insecure a household becomes, the more mental well-being deteriorates – making it even harder to cope with everyday challenges.

This pattern is magnified for families from diverse population groups – such as Indigenous families, newcomers to Canada, and people living with disabilities. These communities face unique barriers that increase their risk of food insecurity and deepen the impacts to their mental well-being:

Indigenous families – Food insecurity among Indigenous children affects emotional development and mental health for life. They are also more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
Newcomers to Canada – Food insecurity among immigrants and refugees undermines coping during resettlement. For newcomer children in Canada, food insecurity has the strongest negative influence on mental health compared to all other settlement-related struggles.
People living with disabilities – Disabilities lead to additional financial burdens, reduced employment opportunities, and emotional struggles that worsen with food insecurity. Once they become food insecure, they endure chronic stress that worsens mental health and makes it harder to manage their disability.

This evidence compels iCAN to action

We work with numerous frontline partners who provide supports to these populations such as Metis Calgary Family Services, Miskanawah, the Centre for Newcomers, the Mosaic Primary Care Network, and Step-by-Step Early Intervention Society.

Our grocery gift card program alleviates financial strain and food insecurity and prioritizes dignity, choice, flexibility, and cultural autonomy. Unlike traditional food programming, our approach restores a sense of control and softens the intense psychological distress that harms food-insecure children and families across all demographics.

Food insecurity among Indigenous children affects emotional development for life

20% of our grocery gift card recipients live in Indigenous households. These families endure greater rates of food insecurity compared to the general population.

Food insecurity among Indigenous children in Canada affects emotional development, stress levels, and mental health for life. Like other populations, food-insecure Indigenous kids are also more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.

National survey data from more than 15,500 Indigenous adults showed that food-insecure individuals were three times more likely to report poor mental health and suicidal thoughts compared to their food-secure counterparts.

Another analysis of national survey responses among more than 3,750 Indigenous people noted that food-insecure Indigenous adults experienced about four times greater odds of living with a diagnosed mental health disorder compared to non-Indigenous adults who were food secure.

Food insecurity among immigrants undermines coping during resettlement

Immigrants and refugees endure a heightened risk of food insecurity, particularly during the early years of resettlement. 45% of the families we support are immigrants or refugees.

For newcomers to Canada, food insecurity reflects the loss of culturally meaningful foods, the stress of navigating unfamiliar systems, and the financial strain of starting over without recognized work experience and education credentials. Many immigrants experience a decline in psychological wellbeing shaped by inadequate income, lack of employment opportunities, and the inability to afford culturally familiar foods. Refugees may face additional risks for poor mental health since the anxiety around food insecurity compounds pre-migration trauma, separation from family, and ongoing resettlement stressors.

A recent review looked at the link between food insecurity and mental health among millions of migrants who had relocated to high-income countries across the globe. It found that, compared to the general population, food-insecure immigrants and refugees have an average of:

1.4 times greater odds of depression
2.4 times higher odds of anxiety, and
nearly 6 times higher odds of psychological distress.

Part of cultural identity

A review of research in Canada noted that food insecurity among newcomers often undermines key psychological aspects of coping during resettlement, such as forming new social connections, blending their cultural identity, and establishing a sense of belonging. A study on newcomer children in Canada showed that food insecurity had the strongest influence on youth mental health compared to other settlement-related factors. Young migrants who faced high levels of food insecurity reported significantly greater distress, anxiety, isolation, and depression.

When newcomer families cannot afford to access culturally meaningful and familiar foods, it affects not only diet quality but also social wellbeing, identity, and emotional stability.

A review of food insecurity and mental health among immigrants in high-income countries concluded that access to culturally familiar foods was strongly linked to improved mental health by sustaining traditions and a sense of normality. About half the participants in iCAN’s own research were newcomer households who preferred grocery gift cards rather than food hampers because our approach empowers families to buy foods aligned with their culture.

A young girl with a Downs Syndrome eats with her parents. About 25% of children that I Can for Kids supports live with a physical or cognitive disability.

Disabilities lead to financial and emotional struggles that worsen with food insecurity

About 25% of parents who receive our grocery gift cards live with a disability, and 27% of the kids who receive our support live with a physical or cognitive disability.

Disabilities deepen the risk of food insecurity by generating major increases in the cost of living while reducing opportunities for meaningful employment. Compared to individuals without disabilities, people living with impairments face more competing demands on their limited financial resources due to higher medical and equipment expenses, specialized diet requirements, increased care needs, transportation barriers, and reduced earning capacity. Once they become food insecure, they endure chronic stress that worsens mental health and makes it harder to manage their disability.

A recent analysis of the Canadian Income Survey found that 26% of Canadians with disabilities are food insecure compared to just 13% of people without disabilities. The severity of food insecurity rises as the number or magnitude of their disabilities increases.

Studies in the United States have established the three-way dynamic between food insecurity, disability, and mental well-being. National survey data reveals how psychological distress surges among food-insecure people with disabilities as income decreases. Another study showed how food insecurity and inadequate income are linked to roughly four times the odds of severe psychological distress among households with disabilities. Research on young adults with disabilities discovered how individuals struggling with high psychological distress faced more than five times the odds of living in a food-insecure household.

From evidence to action

Across these groups, the research is clear: food insecurity is both a consequence and a catalyst of major psychological strain. That’s why iCAN advocates for interventions that restore financial and emotional stability and interrupt this damaging cycle.

Our grocery gift card model brings immediate relief, by addressing the root cause of food insecurity – insufficient income. When families regain the power to buy the food they need, it lifts mental health burdens for both kids and parents.

When you support I Can for Kids, you’re doing more than putting groceries on the table.

You’re helping relieve anxiety for a parent who doesn’t know how they’ll afford next week’s food. Helping a newcomer family maintain important cultural connections. And helping a child experience greater stability during a critical stage of development. And you’re helping break the cycle between food insecurity and poor mental health before its effects can last a lifetime.