It’s Stressful Being Poor

Poverty is stressful. Worries about work, money, housing, food insecurity, childcare, and illness all contribute to severe, long-term levels of chronic stress that can lead to anxiety, depression, physical and mental health issues, and even cognitive impairment and other long-term negative consequences.

Education and affordable housing are the cornerstones of Bethany Hill Place’s mission, but we’re also committed to offering residents access to a range of onsite well-being and mental health services.

Our programming helps people reduce stress so they can live positive, healthier lives as well as more fully access the learning and skill-building opportunities we provide. Our self-care, mindfulness, meditation, physical movement, and self-esteem building activities enhance resilience and build residents’ capacity to manage stress and develop internal assets that will help them succeed.

Increasing our residents’ capacity to manage the anxiety and isolation that all too often accompanies homelessness empowers them and gives them a chance to heal and find their inner purpose. With stress-reduction, resiliency-building techniques like these, our families are taking important steps forward towards success.

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Did you know when stress is extreme and prolonged, it can lead to chronic stress? And that chronic stress can be particularly toxic for people living in poverty and their emotional, social, and physical well-being?

• In addition to depression and anxiety, poverty-related stress creates wear and tear on the body and can lead to chronic health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
• Children’s developing brains and bodies are very susceptible to damage caused by toxic stress, increasing the risk of mental health issues, behavior problems, and academic challenges.
• Interventions to manage poverty-related stress include teaching adults parenting techniques that are child-centered and relationship-based.
• When children develop socio-emotional competencies, they are increasing their resilience and gaining skills to cope on their own with both obstacles and success.

Source: “Stress as a mechanism of poverty’s ill effects on children,” Martha E. Wadsworth, Ph.D. and Shauna L. Rienks, Ph.D. CYF News, American Psychological Association

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