Where is the sense of urgency?

Words by Charles Brooks

In recent months, countless families have experienced debilitating blows to their personal economies affected by job layoffs, business closures, cuts to SNAP benefits, loss of health insurance, along with rising utility bills, and public transportation fares. 

There’s a number of polls and surveys revealing that people are particularly stressed about the costs of groceries, and housing. 

A poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that a vast majority of US adults are stressed about grocery costs, an AP-NORC poll finds | The Associated Press.   According to the poll, 64% of the lowest-income workers - those who have a household income of less than $30,000 a year — say the cost of groceries is a “major” stressor. That’s compared with about 4 in 10 with a household income of $100,000 or more.

There’s poll results from Economist/YouGov poll and Washington Post/Ipsos with findings from Black folk. In the Economist/YouGov poll, 55% identified pocketbook issues as their most important issue; 30% inflation, 15% healthcare, and 10% jobs/economy. 

In the Washington Post/Ipsos poll; 88% of Black voters describe the economy as negative, while 76% say it’s a bad time to find a quality job.

The findings provide both a glimpse, and a reminder of the daily struggle folks are experiencing in order to make ends meet as the cost of living continues to rise. 

Just in the last year, more and more folks are facing unemployment, loss of their healthcare, while dealing with increasing anxiety over making ends meet. The challenge in meeting their material needs such as rent, the cost of utilities, groceries, and even public transportation continue to rise. 

There are research studies digging into (exploring) the link between the inability to meet material needs and mental illness. 

For example, 83% say today's economic climate is taking a toll on their mental health; “…Individuals facing financial insecurity or unemployment are at higher risk of developing mood disorders, anxiety, and substance use disorders.1 Economic stress increases vulnerability to psychiatric conditions due to the chronic stress it imposes on individuals and families…” 

The most recent mental health statistics available are from 2023,and they indicate millions suffer, nearly 25%, but slightly lower for behavioral disorders; Mental Illness - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). 

In Baltimore City, a city underdeveloped, underserved, underfunded where 107, 000 accessed care through Baltimore’s Public Behavioral Health System in ?

Mirroring the results (outcomes) from national polls and surveys, we’re witnessing in Baltimore City the same economic risk factors that places a strain on mental health and aggravates behavioral health. 

There’s the December 2025 survey, “A Portrait of Baltimore” that points out the economic burden, the anxiety that many folks across the City are experiencing. 

The survey found that; More than 55% of respondents felt the local economy was getting worse, and almost 70% said the United States economy was getting worse.

More than a third of employed residents worried about losing their jobs.

And just under half of all employed residents are worried about finding a job as good as their current one, compared to a third of employed residents two years ago.

Meanwhile, over 2000 people are experiencing homelessness, and an estimated 170,000 impacted by the devastating loss of their SNAP benefits. The latest available data tells us that unemployment sits at 4.9% with nearly 20% in poverty in Baltimore City. 

The current moment should compel a wider sense of urgency considering the prevalence of mental illness, declining economic conditions, and a political mis-leadership best defined by budget priorities that focuses more on funding surveillance, and policing.   

There’s an opportunity to once and for all, shed light on the risk factors that contribute to mental illness beyond just biological deficiencies.  

To bring more attention to the material conditions, to the personal economy, to the economic stress and anxiety that comes with the worry about making ends meet. 

To the business decisions that people are increasingly finding themselves making when paying for higher gas at the pump along with rising utility bills. There’s the worry of losing a job, health care, or the fear of eviction or the lights getting turned off. 

This can be a moment to raise critical questions to guide a discussion around not only a political response but a community response as well. To talk about the material needs such as unemployment insurance, paid leave, a real minimum wage, along with expanding access to mental health care.  

But in addition to the political response, there’s addressing and defining community-based solutions - self-determined solutions identifying the needs and demands. 

Right now, is the time to instill a renewed sense of urgency by having a different conversation about mental health that will lead to drawing a different set of conclusions.