The Powerful Impact of Poverty on Mental Health
Have you ever gone to the grocery store and kept a mental tally of what you have to spend and forced to choose between items, or muttering to yourself as you put something back on the shelf, “maybe next pay check.” How about a time you were standing at the gas pump and watched the numbers vigilantly to not go over a certain amount, otherwise you might have to ask a stranger for a couple bucks to pay the cost? You live in constant anxiety knowing that you are one unexpected urgent care visit or blown tire replacement away from draining what savings you have and not making your rent or mortgage. If any of these scenarios resonate with you and your own personal struggles with finances, know that you are not alone in experiencing these challenges.
We are currently experiencing an extremely challenging and uncertain time with inflation impacting everything we purchase, discussions of a recession, the housing market becoming the most unaffordable it has ever been, and stagnant wages not keeping up with corporate profits. I am not an economist, but I hear the remarks from shoppers gasping at the increased food prices, cursing at the gas pump, and the noticeable increase of those seeking public assistance with food and housing. In a CNBC article written by Carmen Reinicke, she reports that 56% of Americans and unable to cover an unexpected $1,000 bill from their savings. It should be no surprise that not knowing if you will have enough money to afford food or rent has a devastating impact on one’s mental health.
If you have ever taken a junior level psychology course in college you will recall seeing a triangle detailing our basic needs known as Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. As a mental health practitioner, I subscribe to the idea that the bottom needs of this hierarchy (i.e., food and housing) must be satisfied before an individual can begin to tackle the higher level of needs. Most therapists, social workers, and others in the human services field would agree that “housing first” is the first step before addressing any other needs through therapeutic interventions. I have to agree through my own experiences in this field that housing stability is imperative for any meaningful work or progress to made through therapy.
Our social welfare systems to assist are woefully underfunded, understaffed, and designed to keep low-income earners from being able to make any progress out of poverty. This “welfare cliff” prevents many from improving their lives and another system of oppression that has a larger impact on minority communities. I have worked with many that fall into this category and observed the deleterious emotional impact that this has had on an individual’s sense of value and image. It is a common occurrence that those who are low-income earners, on disability payments, or living paycheck to paycheck suffer depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues at higher rates impacting their quality of life.
If you are someone who can relate to the information shared in this post, I want you to know that you are not alone and help does exist. There are community health centers that you may qualify for services with that will assign a caseworker, therapist, or other provider to assist you with application for benefits, medical services, mental health services, and dental care. A good place to start is calling your state’s 211 resource number who can you refer you to your local resources and provide a starting point if you are feeling overwhelmed. If you are seeking a therapist and do not have insurance, many providers offer sliding scale fees to assist clients with payments.
