Circles, Mental Health and Poverty: 7 Facts

Circles USA
6 hours ago
3 min read

At Circles, we believe that Mental Health Awareness Month—established in May of 1949 “to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in Americans’ lives and to celebrate recovery from mental illness”¹—is one small-but-important point on a vast map of Americans moving from surviving to thriving.

At one location on this map, we find many ordinary individuals and families struggling to meet basic mental, physical, material, and spiritual needs under crushing economic hardship.

As members progress on their Circles journey, however, we see these same folks emerge from the stigma placed on mental and physical illness—and move into the light of recovery and wellbeing. Not just in terms of paychecks or other financial gains; but holistically, equipped with the mental health tools and support networks for building equitable, thriving communities where poverty no longer exists. We support this mental health journey in many ways: by fostering intentional friendships and social capital, promoting educational opportunities and policy change that increase access to healing, and instilling in our Circle Leaders a basic belief in their own self-worth.

To celebrate our goal of total wellbeing for whole communities, CUSA has gathered some key data points that highlight the relationship between mental health and poverty. We invite you to reflect, then share this information with everyone in your circles who might benefit from an open dialogue on mental health.

Poverty worsens mental health. A 2023 review in The Lancet Psychiatry found that poverty-related stress and deprivation can change our neurochemistry, making people susceptible to anxiety and depression.
Access to mental healthcare often depends on income and identity. A 2025 American Psychiatry Association (APA) study has shown that lower-income people are less likely to receive treatment for mental health disorders. Factors include cost, lack of insurance, and “limited availability of culturally competent care.” Worse, according to a 2024 study from the Social Science & Medicine journal: “rising income inequality correlates with higher rates of depression in economically disadvantaged groups.” And those in the bottom income brackets often experience “higher levels of perceived discrimination, social exclusion, and limited social mobility”—all direct contributors to mental illness, depression, and anxiety.
Mental and nutritional health are linked, especially for the young... The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reported in 2024 that food insecurity “significantly increases the likelihood of anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders, particularly in children and adolescents.”
…and whole families are hurt by lack of access to mental healthcare. A 2023 study in pediatrics found that children of parents with mental health issues, especially those living in poverty, are at a significantly higher risk of developmental delays and psychological disorders.
Mental health barriers can close job pathways. World Health Organization (WHO) research concluded in 2024 that, because Americans with untreated mental health issues are often marginalized in the job market, they face higher rates of unemployment and underemployment.
Racial discrimination compounds mental health problems. A 2024 study by Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Psychiatry indicated that racial discrimination “is a significant source of stress, contributing to a higher prevalence of depression, anxiety, and PTSD” in [Black and Indigenous] communities.
Mental health and homelessness are correlated. Per The Lancet in 2023, homelessness and increased rates of severe mental health disorders (including psychosis and depression) are statistically connected.

Mental Health Awareness Month is only one moment in a continuum of healing. As this process is an ongoing one in our community of practice, Circles encourages all participants to join us: not just in May but year-round and 24/7, until mental healthcare, inclusion and empathy are available to all—especially people hardest-hit by lack of access.

Click the Give to Circles button and help us celebrate 25+ years of building community to end poverty!