"The youth mental health crisis we’re living in, where so many children are struggling with anxiety and depression, and are attempting self-harm − that also understandably weighs on parents and contributes to their own stress," U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy told me recently on New York University Langone Health's " Doctor Radio Reports " on Sirius XM. "Those are relatively different from what prior generations had to contend with.”
The advisory highlights the demands of parenting, including sleep deprivation, busy schedules, managing child behaviors, financial strains and worries about children’s health and safety.
Parents' high levels of stress is a public health crisis
Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. surgeon general, discusses mental health with actor Matthew McConaughey, a professor with the University of Texas at Austin, in the fall of 2023. Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman
As surgeon general, physician Murthy has issued previous advisories on loneliness, teen mental health and the overuse of social media. The latest advisory is an extension of those themes and once again highlights a devastating problem that is easily overlooked.
Parental stress is a public health crisis directly connected to the crisis of childhood stress and anxiety.
Murthy expressed concern that parents are feeling increased stress in part because of the judgmental, perfectionistic environment of social media.
Parents' poor mental health affects their children
Perhaps most important, he pointed out that worried parents make their children feel worried.
“The truth is, the reason that parental well-being matters so much is because those parents do an incredibly important job, which is raising the next generation," Murthy said. "And when parents are struggling with their mental health, it actually affects the mental health of kids.”
As a remedy, he's prescribing more kindness and less judgment as well as more community support for parents.
We also need a greater focus on assisting low-income households, those with job instability, racial and ethnic minorities, sexual and gender minorities, immigrants, divorced families, the disabled and parents and children who have been exposed to violence.
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Simple gestures of kindness, sharing the responsibility of caring for children with the community, more connections among parents and speaking more openly about the challenges that parents face are all steps forward.
“Everything is harder when we don’t have support around us − when we don’t have relationships, social connections and a sense of community," Dr. Murthy told me. "That means what may seem like normal routine stresses may become overwhelming. Just a small gesture of support or kindness or compassion from someone else can make a real difference when you’re in a crisis.”
“A little kindness goes a long way,” the surgeon general said.
A Happier Country ,with Happier people ,who are loving their Life. a little less because, of Greed from the OTHERS . 😷You know the ones that made us wear these . They ones in office . The ones screwing your kids heads up.. Vote Red !
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