Food insecurity affects 1 in 3 regional people – and it’s worse for those with poor mental health

It’s becoming harder for many Australians to afford enough healthy food, especially in regional areas, our new research shows.

We surveyed almost 700 adults across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions of New South Wales – online and through local community centres. We asked residents about their access to food, well-being, mental health and social connections.

Food insecurity means not having reliable access to enough affordable, nutritious food. For some, it’s the worry that their money won’t stretch to the end of the week. For others, it means skipping meals or going without so their children can eat.

Food insecurity is often described as being purely financial, but our study highlights it’s also tied to well-being and social connection.

We found more than one in three people had struggled to afford food in the past year. Those who were socially isolated or had a mental illness were twice as likely to experience food insecurity as the wider population.

The link likely goes both ways

In our survey, people who rated their mental health as only fair or poor were twice as likely to be food insecure. The same pattern appeared among people with diagnosed depression or anxiety.

This link likely goes both ways. The stress of wondering where your next meal will come from can take a toll on mental health, causing anxiety and fatigue. And having poor mental health can make it harder to plan meals, manage bills or ask for help.

A recent study from the United Kingdom and France reported similar results, finding mental health declined during months when people experienced food insecurity.

As one local resident aged 25–34 years told us:

I have been unable to purchase fresh fruit or vegetables which has left me heavily fatigued and has worsened my mood and anxiety disorders.

Why connection matters

People in our study who often felt isolated were also more likely to experience food insecurity.

Loneliness can make it harder to reach out for help, while financial stress can lead people to withdraw socially, compounding the problem.

As one mother aged 35–44 years said:

I don’t ever do a “full” shop anymore, my daughter and I just get by with whatever we have and try to make it stretch. It puts a strain on friendships because I don’t want my daughter to have friends over because we don’t have enough food to share.

People living in regional Australia can face extra challenges that heighten these risks. Geographic isolation often means fewer job opportunities, higher transport costs and limited access to affordable fresh food, especially in smaller towns where supermarkets and services are scarce.

One woman aged 18–24 years told us:

We can’t afford to have a fair diet because the supermarkets are too far to catch a bus and carry it home and we don’t have a car so we have to use Uber Eats which cost a lot more.

At the same time, regional residents may experience more barriers in accessing health care and mental health support, due to fewer community services and social networks.

Even when food relief is available, it doesn’t always reach those most in need. Less than one-quarter of severely food-insecure households in our study said they had accessed emergency food relief.

Many told us they preferred to deal with the issue themselves, which may be due to stigma around accessing support.

One father aged 45–54 years explained

When bills come in, as a parent, I will starve rather than see my children go hungry […] I do without so the rest of the family can eat.

For those in need, community centres often fill this gap despite not having enough resources to meet the growing demand.

Our research found people visiting community centres face higher levels of food insecurity and poorer health than the broader community, yet they report feeling more supported.

Community centres don’t just give out food, they also connect people to health care, education, employment and mental-health services. As local community centre managers said, “food is the glue” that brings people through the door and helps them find wider support.

Turning evidence into action

In addition to recent national statistics, some states and territories have begun monitoring food insecurity.

But we still don’t have a clear picture of what’s happening in many regional areas. Without good local data, it’s hard for governments and community services to see where the need is greatest or what support actually works.

The federal government’s upcoming Feeding Australia National Food Security Strategy is a step toward a coordinated national plan.

Read more: Australia's new food security strategy: what’s on the table, and what's missing?

But the biggest impact will come from people already on the ground who understand what their communities need most.

In the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, this kind of data is already helping drive solutions. The Illawarra Shoalhaven Food Futures Taskforce brings together government, health workers, researchers and community organisations for practical, local action to ensure everyone has access to healthy, affordable food.

To really tackle food insecurity in Australia we need to deal with the causes: low income, housing stress, poor mental health and social isolation.

Local programs such as food hubs, community kitchens and food cooperatives, are also important. These initiatives often involve communities collectively purchasing, cooking and sharing lower-cost, nutritious food using supermarket surplus, donations or locally grown produce. They not only help put food on the table but support community connection, making them a key part of Australia’s long-term solution to food insecurity.