Surgeon general warns of mental health risks to parents

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory on Wednesday morning regarding the mental health and well-being of parents , citing the urgent need to support families and caregivers.

“Raising children is sacred work,” Murthy wrote in the advisory . “It should matter to all of us. And the health and well-being of those who are caring for our children should matter to us as well.”

A third of parents reported high levels of stress in the past month compared to 20% of other adults, according to the surgeon general’s advisory. Nearly half of parents said that most days, their stress level is completely overwhelming, compared to only 26% of those who aren't parents.

Financial strain and economic instability were cited as the top reasons for stress among parents and caregivers, but other circumstances, including concerns over children’s mental health, social media, and uncertainty about the future, add to the problem.

Murthy has made mental health his focus, with six of the nine priorities of the Office of the Surgeon General being directly related to psychological well-being.

The loneliness epidemic, which Murthy classified as a public health problem last year, affects most parents, with about 65% of parents and guardians identifying as lonely, compared to 55% of those who aren't parents.

Nearly 80% of single parents report struggling with loneliness, and nearly 70% of all mothers say they are lonely compared to only 62% of fathers.

“Stress is tougher to manage when you feel you’re on your own, which is why it’s particularly concerning that so many parents, single parents most of all, report feeling lonelier than other adults ,” Murthy wrote in a New York Times opinion piece published Wednesday along with the advisory.

To address the crisis, Murthy is calling for “fundamentally shifting how we value parenting, recognizing that the work of raising a child is crucial to the health and well-being of all society.”

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Murthy praised recent efforts to expand early childhood education and maternal health programs but also called for the expansion of child tax credits and paid family leave programs. He also said it is important for parents to build greater social connections and not feel embarrassed to ask for help from friends and family when needed.

“Given the responsibility it entails, raising children is never going to be without worry,” Murthy wrote. “But reorienting our priorities in order to give parents and caregivers the support they need would do a lot to ensure the balance skews toward joy.”