U.S. Surgeon General Declares Parental Stress a Public Health Issue
In late August, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Parents declaring parental mental health an urgent public health challenge that requires immediate attention.
The advisory highlights stressors that impact the mental health and well-being of parents and caregivers, the critical link between parental mental health and children's long-term health, and the need to boost support for parents, caregivers and families.
Over the last decade, parents have been consistently more likely to report experiencing high levels of stress compared to other adults. When stress is severe or prolonged, it can have a harmful effect on the mental health of parents and caregivers, which then affects the well- being of the children they raise.
There are approximately 63 million parents living with children under the age of 18 in the U.S., plus millions of additional non-parental caregivers. According to Department of Health and Human Services 2023 data, 33% of parents reported high levels of stress in the past month compared to 20% of other adults. Also, 48% of parents say that most days their stress is completely overwhelming compared to 26% among other adults.
This population experiences a range of unique stressors including:
Financial strain, economic instability, and poverty
Time demands
Children’s health
Children’s safety
Parental isolation and loneliness
Technology and social media
Cultural pressures and children’s futures
In addition to the common stressors listed above, mental health conditions disproportionately affect some parents and caregivers, including those facing circumstances like family or community violence, poverty, racism and discrimination.
The Surgeon General’s advisory suggests that supporting parents will require policy changes and expanded community support. Overall, it outlines four shifts that could help improve the health and well-being of parents and caregivers:
Recognition that parenting is work:
Our culture should place equal value on parenting and paid work, and should reflect this in our priorities.More community and government support:
Our community needs to invest more in the health, education and safety of children to lessen the burden placed on parents.Ability to discuss challenges openly:
When people speak openly about the stress that comes with parenting, it helps remove the shame and guilt that some internalize.A culture of connection:
Parents and caregivers should come together to exchange experiences and ideas, support one another and address the loneliness epidemic.
To read the full advisory, please click here. For more information about the Office of the Surgeon General, please visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/priorities.
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