Sex and gender are influential factors in depression. Women are affected differently by depression than men, not only in terms of prevalence rates—36.7% of women compared to 20.4% for men (Witters, 2023)—but also with severity and treatment efficacy. Critically, the onset and relapse of depression are often related to reproductive events—puberty, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause—all characterized by changes in sex hormone levels.

Food insecurity—when access to adequate food is limited by income—is not only a food justice issue but a major public health issue with significant social and economic consequences that necessitate advocacy for systemic reforms, programs, and policies. A shift is needed to depoliticize food assistance and normalize the issue—and the invisibility of the food insecure, who experience a higher disease burden, including increased risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and mental health issues.

Our modern lifestyle and the “stressogenic” environment have significantly changed over the last 50 years. The resulting trends over future projections of mental disease incidence are concerning. By 2030, it’s anticipated that mental health diseases will be the leading cause of disease burden globally.