Poverty & Mental Health: How Love INC Makes a Difference

By Stuart Smith

Poverty and poor mental health are deeply intertwined. Poverty often means constant stress—worrying about housing, food, and other basic needs. This can lead to or worsen mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, and feelings of hopelessness, creating a cycle of struggle.

It is important to note that Love INC does not provide or replace professional counseling or services to those who need them. Instead, we add an extra layer of support to those burdened by the stress of poverty and other life circumstances.

The Bible reminds us to “carry each other’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). This simple act is often overlooked but can alleviate a great deal of pressure for struggling persons. Being available to someone and listening to their story communicates both their value and shows Christ’s love for them. Love INC’s Redemptive Compassion philosophy gives us a framework to care for the whole person, including their emotional needs.

Here are a few ways we help:
Love INC Meets Immediate Needs.
Jesus often met people’s practical needs before addressing their deeper concerns. For example, He fed the 5,000 (Matthew 14:13-21) and healed physical ailments (Mark 5:25-34) as acts of compassion. Following His example, Love INC mobilizes local churches to provide essentials like furniture, transportation, and household items. These tangible acts of love alleviate immediate stress, creating space for individuals to focus on their mental and emotional well-being.

Love INC Offers Genuine Relationships.
Poverty often leads to isolation, which can deepen feelings of hopelessness. Jesus showed the power of connection by spending time with those whom society had marginalized. Similarly, Love INC volunteers take time to build relationships, listening to people’s stories and reminding them they are valued and loved.

Love INC Provides Holistic, Transformational Care.
The Bible calls us to care for the whole person. When Jesus helped people, He often addressed both physical and spiritual needs. Love INC reflects this holistic care by not only meeting practical needs but also connecting individuals to counseling, mentoring, and spiritual encouragement.

One of my favorite stories from our call center is about a woman who was very upset during her call to us. Her emotional stress was overwhelming and our volunteer recognized that she was trying to fill an emotional void by making a material request to us. In the conversation, we discovered that her daughter-in-law was withholding visitations to her granddaughter. By simply being available and listening, our volunteer was able to reduce her stress and provide a hopeful future.

We need volunteers to answer the call to care for our neighbors in our community.
Visit our “I want to help” page to learn more.