Medicaid and SNAP cuts deepen hunger and mental health crises, clinicians warn

Cole Hanson, a clinical dietitian at a large urban hospital, writes about the direct link he sees between food insecurity and psychiatric emergencies.

He recounts a patient who arrived with suicidal thoughts after losing SNAP eligibility. The patient had exhausted cash, lived in a motel, and survived on dry cereal, ultimately seeking the hospital as a refuge from hunger and hopelessness.

Hanson explains that his role involves coordinating nutrition support, social work, and physician input to connect patients with Meals on Wheels, food pantries, and other resources. He notes that food insecurity routinely drives hospital visits, including for mental health crises.

The piece argues that recent cuts to Medicaid and SNAP exacerbate these intertwined problems, urging policymakers to consider the health consequences of reduced food assistance programs.