TULSA, Okla. — Hunger does more than leave families wondering where their next meal will come from. In Tulsa, it is quietly fueling anxiety, depression, and long-term trauma, especially in households facing economic stress, housing instability, and limited access to health care. Mental health experts increasingly agree that food insecurity is not just a social issue. It is a mental health crisis hiding in plain sight.
That understanding is driving a shift in how care is delivered. Through Dec. 19, GRAND Mental Health is inviting the Tulsa community to donate nutritious, shelf-stable food items at its clinic locations. The Healthy Food Drive aims to address hunger not as an isolated problem, but as a root cause of emotional and psychological distress.
How Food Insecurity Disrupts Mental and Emotional Health
Shalena Casanova, the Nutrition Coach at GRAND Mental Health, explained how food insecurity affects far more than physical health.
“Food insecurity leads to chronic stress, which disrupts the body’s stress response system, affecting mood regulation and emotional well-being. Raising cortisol levels can feel like a person is in fight or flight mode,” she told The Black Wall Street Times.
“Inadequate access to nutritious food can lead to deficiencies in essential nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and B vitamins, which are crucial for brain health and mood regulation. Food insecurities in children affect their ability to learn, behavior, mood, and attention span in school,” she added.
National research underscores the connection. Adults experiencing food insecurity are nearly three times more likely to report symptoms of depression and more than twice as likely to experience anxiety. These mental health impacts often persist even after immediate food shortages are resolved, especially when hunger is prolonged or experienced during childhood.
“Addressing food insecurity as soon as possible is essential to those struggling with it,” Casanova stressed. “When parents struggle with depression linked to hunger, it can ripple through the whole family. By coming together to support our community—especially during the holidays—and introducing them to healthier choices like low-sodium soups, whole grains, etc., – we can help break this cycle and bring hope to those who need it most.”
Tulsa’s Food Insecurity Crisis by the Numbers
In Tulsa County, the numbers are sobering. Nearly 14 percent of residents lack consistent access to affordable, nutritious food. Among children, that figure climbs to nearly 20 percent. For families already under strain, hunger compounds emotional distress and makes recovery more difficult.
Why Mental Health Care Now Starts With Food Access
The holidays, often portrayed as a season of abundance, can intensify shame and isolation for families facing hunger. Parents skip meals so children can eat, while others rely on low-cost, low-nutrient foods that worsen fatigue, irritability, and emotional instability over time.
Mental health providers are increasingly recognizing that therapy and medication alone cannot resolve symptoms rooted in unmet basic needs. Access to healthy food is now understood as foundational to mental stability. Without proper nutrition, treatment outcomes suffer and recovery becomes harder to sustain.
Casanova says that’s why GRAND’s food drive emphasizes healthier shelf-stable items, including low-sodium canned fruits and vegetables, whole grains, high-protein canned meats, olive or canola oil, oats, rice, pasta, and shelf-stable milk. These foods support both physical nourishment and cognitive function, helping stabilize mood and energy levels.
Hunger, Race, and Generational Stress
The initiative reflects a broader shift toward whole-person care, acknowledging how food access, housing, economic hardship, and mental health are deeply intertwined. For communities historically underserved by traditional health systems, that shift is especially critical.
Food insecurity does not exist in a vacuum. It intersects with race, income, neighborhood access, and generational trauma. In Black and working-class communities, where economic inequities and health disparities already run deep, hunger becomes another layer of stress in an already heavy load.
Community Action as Early Intervention
Community participation plays a key role. GRAND Mental Health is asking residents to donate what they can, recognizing that collective action can soften the impact of systemic failures. While food drives alone cannot solve food insecurity, they provide immediate relief and expand access to care.
“During holidays, food insecurity can be particularly challenging, as families may struggle to provide traditional meals or feel ashamed that they are not able to provide traditional holiday meals,” Casanova shared.
“Holidays often bring increased food costs, exacerbating food insecurity. Social media and societal expectations can amplify feelings of inadequacy and shame,” she said — adding, “Families may have limited access to resources, such as food banks or meal services, during holidays.”
As Tulsa continues to grapple with rising mental health needs, efforts like this challenge narrow definitions of treatment. Healing does not begin only in therapy sessions or prescription bottles. It begins when people are nourished, stabilized, and supported in meeting their most basic needs.