Gender inequality
Hunger affects everyone differently. But around the world, women and girls are most at risk of becoming malnourished.
Extreme hunger, conflict and climate-related disasters can have a huge impact on people’s mental health. And people with poor mental health have less access to the healthy, nutritious food they need to thrive.
We’re focusing on mental health care, psychosocial support and nutrition services for women, children and families affected by trauma.
The trauma of war and conflict
Families flee their homes amid conflict and violence in Khartoum in Sudan. (Photo by AFP)
Around 142 million children live in conflict zones. Nearly one-fifth of people affected by conflict will need mental health support. And, 1 in 20 of those will develop a severe mental health disorder.
Mental health is a global issue. Take the example of the persecuted Rohingya community. Following violence in Myanmar in the summer of 2017, a huge number of Rohingya refugees crossed the border into Bangladesh. Today, nearly 1 million people are still living in dreadful, cramped conditions in Cox’s Bazar. This is having a terrible impact on their mental health.
And in Yemen and Syria, fighting has made the already difficult humanitarian crises worse. Living with daily conflict is impacting people’s mental healthy every day.
In conflict-scarred regions or in emergencies, like the earthquake in Syria it’s vital that mental health care services give people the best chance to rebuild their lives, find work, earn a living and support their families.
Gender inequality and mental health
Mental health work is part of our fight against hunger. It makes sense. Imagine the life of a mother living in poverty. Every single day is a constant battle to feed her children and keep herself healthy.
Walking miles on end to find and carry water. Fleeing conflict with only the clothes she’s wearing and the children in her arms. How can a mother in these circumstances have the energy to look after herself, let alone care for her children?
Maternal mental health also plays a vital role in child health and development.
Research shows that maternal depression often leads to low child immunisation rates, reduced hospital visits and a decrease in breastfeeding. These, in turn, result in higher rates of child illness and malnutrition and badly hold back a child’s normal development.
Poor maternal mental health, particularly maternal depression, can contribute to children being underweight and stunted. And, compared to other children, infants of mothers with poor mental health have been found to have poorer physical, emotional, and mental skills.
