US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a public health advisory on Wednesday warning that parenting can be detrimental to mental health, highlighting the severe stress, loneliness, and mental health challenges parents face. Murthy called for comprehensive support from government, employers, and communities, including policy changes such as national paid family and medical leave, affordable childcare, and access to mental health resources.
“With this Advisory, I am calling for a fundamental shift in how we value and prioritize the mental health and well-being of parents,” Murthy said in his report. “I am also outlining policies, programs, and individual actions we can all take to support parents and caregivers.”
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory, saying it's time to recognize the stress and mental health toll associated with parenting is a serious public health concern for the country.@GeoffRBennett speaks to Murthy about his concerns and recommendations. pic.twitter.com/quXtiyDTUT
— PBS News (@NewsHour) August 28, 2024
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The advisory underscores that 48% of parents feel overwhelmingly stressed most days, compared to 26% of non-parents, with financial strain, social media, and children’s mental health among the primary stressors. Murthy emphasized that supporting parents is crucial not only for their well-being but also for the health and future of society, suggesting that parenting should be valued as highly as paid employment.
There are approximately 63 million parents in the U.S., and the advisory aims to address their “silent struggles” through a fundamental cultural shift in prioritizing parental mental health.
As Murthy told Reuters: “Behind this youth mental health crisis is a real crisis with parents, where many of them are struggling with profound stress and with their own mental health challenge.”
Connor Walcott is a staff writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
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