Have you recently Googled “Surgeon General Parenting Report?” There has been a lot of important and consuming news lately, so you may have missed the most recent Advisory released by the U.S. Surgeon General focusing on the tremendous pressure parents are facing today. This is a brief summary of the released advisory titled “Parents Under Pressure: The Mental Health and Well-Being of Parents.”
To most parents, there are not many surprises in the 35-page advisory. It emphasizes the increasing stress levels and mental health challenges facing parents today. Outlining how parental stress is not just a personal issue but a significant public health concern, the advisory also calls for more support for parents who are navigating the complex and often overwhelming demands of raising children, working, and managing personal well-being in August 2024. An impressive takeaway (at least for me) was the five pages of 157 references at the end.
If you are one of these stressed-out parents who feels like you can’t make it to the end of this blog post, check out this 2-minute summary directly from Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, himself.
Why Parents are Under Pressure
Parenting has never been an easy job, and many cultures inherently recognize this. Many cultures structure a community culture that allows the weight and responsibility of raising children to be spread amongst many, rather than solely the parents. This advisory highlights the recent social, economic, and cultural shifts that have added unprecedented layers of stress. The advisory highlights several factors contributing to this rise in pressure:
Economic insecurity: Financial instability, rising costs of childcare, and balancing work demands make parenting more stressful than ever.
Lack of support systems: Many parents feel isolated due to limited access to family or community support. This isolation has worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mental health stigma: Despite growing awareness, many parents still hesitate to seek help due to societal expectations and fear of judgment.
Information overload: The rise of social media and parenting advice online can create unrealistic comparisons, causing more stress than relief.
The Mental Health Crisis Among Parents
The Surgeon General’s advisory points out that parental mental health impacts not just the individual but also their children, relationships, and society as a whole. Parental mental health challenges are linked to an increased risk of mental health issues in children. Parents who experience chronic stress are also more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression, and burnout. Shockingly, the advisory reports that 41% of parents reach stress levels that interfere with their ability to function effectively on most days.
Dr. Vivek Murthy shared in a recent PBS NewsHour interview that “parents are under immense pressure, and the consequences of that stress extend to their kids and communities.” The advisory argues that addressing this growing issue is critical to the well-being of families nationwide.
Key Takeaways from the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory
Stress is a Public Health Issue
The advisory underscores that parental stress is not a private matter but a public health concern. Pause here and please read that sentence again. Parents, you are not alone. This is a systemic and cultural problem, not a ‘you’ problem. Extend yourself some grace. According to NPR, Dr. Murthy pointed out that parental mental health should be treated with the same urgency as physical health concerns. High levels of stress not only impact parents’ health but can also contribute to a wide range of issues, including:
- Lower productivity at work
- Strained relationships within the family
- Increased likelihood of mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety
Action item: It’s crucial to normalize the conversation about stress and mental health among parents. For example, it’s suggested that workplaces adopt more flexible schedules or offer mental health days to help parents manage their stress levels more effectively.
Parents Need More Support
One of the most alarming findings in the advisory is that many parents feel they lack the necessary support from family, friends, or even their communities. To many parents and households, this isn’t news. The Surgeon General called for a cultural shift where parenting is seen as a shared responsibility, not just an individual one. Community resources, like affordable childcare and mental health services, are also essential but often out of reach for many families.
As CNN reported, parents often bear the burden of juggling work, child-rearing, and household duties without enough help. This isolation can exacerbate feelings of loneliness, leading to poor mental health outcomes.
Action item: Local governments, community organizations, and schools can step in by offering more accessible resources for parents. If parents feel enabled themselves, they can prioritize building a support network by reaching out to friends, neighbors, or support groups that can share the load. If parents lack the ability to do this for themselves, I call on communities, neighborhoods, and individuals to reach out to parents and offer their support.
Stress Management is Essential
Managing stress is essential not just for the well-being of parents but for the health of their children. Children of parents who suffer from high levels of chronic stress may experience emotional and behavioral problems. The New York Times highlights the importance of teaching parents stress management techniques, such as mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) practices, or engaging in self-care routines.
Action item: Parents can incorporate daily stress management practices like short meditation breaks, exercise, or deep breathing exercises. When working with parents in my therapy practice, I explore the possibilities of incorporating these practices into a daily routine with their children, as finding uninterrupted time/space is often a challenge. Professionals, such as therapists or counselors, can offer guidance tailored to parents’ unique needs. These practices can help parents build resilience and reduce burnout.
What Can Be Done to Support Parents?
The U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory is a call to action for everyone—employers, policymakers, healthcare providers, and communities—to prioritize the mental health and well-being of parents. The burden and heavy lifting of change-making cannot rest on parents alone. Here are three specific ways we can all support parents:
Workplaces should offer family-friendly policies: Flexible work schedules, paid parental leave, and mental health resources in the workplace can help reduce stress for working parents.
Communities need to build stronger support systems: Local organizations can create and manage networks where parents can share responsibilities or receive assistance, like neighborhood childcare co-ops or family support centers.
Mental health care should be more accessible: Parents need easy access to mental health services, including therapy and counseling, that fit within their schedules and budgets. Offering teletherapy and sliding scale services can help break down some of the barriers to seeking care.
Final Thoughts
The advisory on the mental health and well-being of parents is an important reminder that the stress and challenges faced by parents are not isolated issues. They are community-wide problems that demand collective solutions. Whether you’re a parent, a friend, a colleague, or part of a larger system, recognizing and addressing parental mental health is essential.
At Mid-Atlantic Psychotherapy, we recognize the critical need to support the mental health of parents. In fact, one of our foundational tenets is to help overwhelmed individuals prioritize their mental wellness. This is inclusive of parents. Our team offers individualized therapy to help you navigate the unique challenges of parenthood, manage stress, and improve your overall well-being. Mid-Atlantic Psychotherapy is a fully virtual practice to meet your busy lifestyle. We have therapists who offer daytime and evening appointments to residents of DC, Maryland, and Virginia. You are not alone in this struggle, we are here to provide you with support.
Interested in Reading More?
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2024, August 28). Parents under pressure: The U.S. Surgeon General advisory on the mental health and well-being of parents. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/parents/index.html
- CNN. (2024, August 28). Parental stress wellness report. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/28/health/parental-stress-wellness-report
- NPR. (2024, August 29). Parental stress is a significant public health issue, Surgeon General advisory says. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2024/08/29/nx-s1-5092080/parental-stress-is-a-significant-public-health-issue-surgeon-general-advisory-says
- PBS NewsHour. (2024, August 28). Surgeon general addresses growing stress and mental health struggles facing parents. PBS NewsHour. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/surgeon-general-addresses-growing-stress-and-mental-health-struggles-facing-parents
- Editorial Board. (2024, August 28). Surgeon general sounds the alarm on parental stress. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/28/opinion/surgeon-general-stress-parents.html
About the Author
Christina Moynihan is the Owner of Mid-Atlantic Psychotherapy, a web-based psychotherapy practice aimed at helping overwhelmed individuals prioritize their mental health. With over twenty years of professional clinical social work experience, she has had the honor of working with populations suffering from grief and loss, HIV/AIDS, addiction/harm reduction and recovery, perinatal challenges, systemic racism and injustice, mental health struggles, and trauma. Since 2015, she has also served as an adjunct professor at her alma mater, Mount Saint Mary’s University. With the desire to reduce the challenges people face attempting to access mental health care, Christina created Mid-Atlantic Psychotherapy in 2023. In her time away from work, Christina is an exhausted parent of two amazing children and strives to be a positive role model for them.