Clinicians at Catholic Charities of Buffalo see this connection every day. In behavioral health clinics across the agency, financial instability and mental health challenges are often deeply intertwined.
“We often see layers of underlying stress in clients who are living in poverty,” said Justin Fax, practice director, Behavioral Health Services, Catholic Charities. “The poverty levels affecting these clients create a level of worry that people living above the poverty line may not experience.”
Concerns about housing stability, family safety, healthcare access, food insecurity, and financial pressure can weigh heavily on families and individuals, creating stress that doesn’t go away at the end of the day. Over time, this level of stress can take a serious toll on a person’s mental health, manifesting in anxiety and depression. Additionally, in some cases, this chronic stress can lead to substance use or struggles in relationships and at work, which ultimately, places them deeper into the cycle of poverty. As Fax explained, these pressures are ongoing realities for these people and not one-time setbacks.
“We see firsthand how poverty creates a level of constant worry for our clients,” Fax said. “That pressure doesn’t stop when someone leaves our office. It follows them into their relationships, their work, and their everyday lives.”
While conversations around mental health often focus on therapy or medication, these experiences underscore a broader reality: mental health is closely tied to the conditions people live with every day. Access to food, safe and affordable housing, education, healthcare, and fair wages all play a critical role in mental well-being. Though these issues are often discussed at a policy level, their impact is deeply personal for those living through them.
At Catholic Charities, our Behavioral Health program is part of a larger network of services designed to support people through real-life challenges. Along with counseling and psychiatric services, clients can be connected to other programs within the agency and to community partners that help meet basic needs and support stability during difficult seasons. It’s an approach grounded in a simple truth that mental health care works best when it supports the whole person, not just the symptoms.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with their mental well-being, you don’t have to handle it alone. Help is available, regardless of financial circumstances. To connect with our Behavioral Health services, call 1-877-448-4466 or visit ccwny/mental-wellness.
