When we have a lot going on, whether it is sudden sickness in the family or a move to a new place, it can be stressful and hard for us to focus. In contrast, everyday occasions like a birthday party, a missed bus, or a hangout with friends do not tend to be big stressors. But for people experiencing poverty, even everyday occasions like these can trigger financial concerns that are mentally taxing and persistent. In addition to financial concerns, people experiencing poverty constantly have to deal with being stereotyped and stigmatized. Even when not directly dealing with these situations, they may worry about these situations coming up, requiring them to exert extra mental effort to regulate negative thoughts and emotions. These mental burdens can also affect others experiencing stigma based on their race, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, or health status (e.g., HIV, mental illness). 
 
These often invisible mental burdens make it harder to make the kinds of health decisions most of us desire to make – to eat better, get more exercise, seek preventive care, get more regular sleep, and look after our mental health. The extra mental load of poverty and discrimination adds to the structural barriers to health equity that many people face. By recognizing the mental burdens that affect people, we can better understand the choices they sometimes make, and design services that minimize the additional mental effort required.