Food Insecurity and Mental Health
Watch a recording of our Mental Health Day 2021 event, “Food Insecurity and Mental Health” – featuring student researchers from the Talking Hunger Project – and access a range of free and affordable food resources.
Student food insecurity – especially during the COVID-19 pandemic – is a real and under discussed phenomenon that impacts negatively on students' physical and mental wellbeing. The Talking Hunger Project at the University of Melbourne brings together staff and student researchers interested in breaking down the stigma around discussing food insecurity and exploring solutions that could be put in place. For Mental Health Day 2021 we featured two Talking Hunger researchers presenting what they'd found out about student food insecurity through extensive research and community conversations. Watch a recording of the event below, and scroll down to access a list of resources to free and affordable food options on campus and beyond.
Food Insecurity and Mental Health
A Faculty of Arts Event for Mental Health Day 2021, featuring researchers Aasha Sriram (Faculty of Arts) and Mia Zentari (Melbourne School of Population and Global Health) from the Talking Hunger project. Recorded live via Zoom on 4 May, 2021, with facilitator Erin Scudder (Faculty of Arts).
Resources
- Free meal packs and food boxes for students from the Free Meals Program and Second Bite
- University of Melbourne Student Union Food Bank
- University of Melbourne Student Union Free Breakfast (during term time)
- Financial Aid for University of Melbourne students
- Free kitchenware and other household necessities from Household Help Services
- Foodbank International Student Pop Up Store
- Healthy Eating and Nutrition Society (HENS) (student club interested in eating well on a budget)
- UniMelb Food Interest Group (student club with discounts and free food events for members)
- UniMelb Vegan Club (student club offering free vegan food events and cooking advice)
- OzHarvest (providing pantry essentials and fresh produce to international students in many locations)
- Grow Free (food carts in outer Melbourne suburbs providing free organic produce)
- Lentil as Anything Thornbury (providing pay-as-you-can meals, food relief, and affordable takeaway)
- Muslim Women's Council of Victoria (providing free cooked meals, vegetables and fruit for female Muslim international students every Friday)
- Hare Krishna Melbourne (affordable vegetarian and vegan food available for same day delivery when ordered before 10am)
- Food Not Bombs Melbourne (local chapter of international organisation providing free vegan meals three times a week: Monday evening at Queen Vic Market, Tuesday evening in Melbourne CBD, Wednesday evening at Coburg Library)