U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued a warning on Wednesday, declaring that the mental health and well-being of parents has become an “urgent public health issue” requiring immediate action.
In a 30-page advisory, Murthy outlined the increasing pressures on parents and highlighted the need to prioritize their mental health.
Murthy’s advisory, a tool reserved for the most critical public health challenges, outlined a range of factors contributing to the overwhelming stress experienced by nearly half of American parents.
From financial instability and safety concerns to the challenges of technology and social media, the advisory painted a bleak picture of modern parenthood.
“Parents have a profound impact on the health of our children and the health of society,” Murthy stated in a release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
“Yet parents and caregivers today face tremendous pressures… As a father of two kids, I feel these pressures too.”
The advisory revealed alarming statistics: 41% of parents report that their stress levels are so high that they struggle to function on most days, while 48% describe their stress as “completely overwhelming.”
The COVID-19 pandemic, financial uncertainty, and concerns about school safety—exacerbated by the rising threat of gun violence—are among the primary contributors to this crisis.
Murthy highlighted the cascading effects of parental stress on children, noting that both maternal and paternal mental health conditions are closely linked to the well-being of their offspring.
“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 challenges,” Murthy told Reuters.
In response to these findings, the Surgeon General called for a broad range of actions to mitigate stress at every stage of parenthood.
His recommendations include expanded funding for support programs, the establishment of a national paid family and medical leave program, and greater access to affordable mental health care.
The advisory also urged employers to implement training programs that address stress management and work-life balance.
However, the push for legislative action faces significant challenges.
Despite these setbacks, Murthy remains hopeful that the well-being of parents can transcend political divisions. “My hope is that…the well-being of parents would not be a political or partisan issue,” he remarked.
For many parents, particularly single parents, the stress has reached a breaking point.
A What to Expect survey highlighted in the advisory found that 68% of mothers and a staggering 79% of Gen Z mothers experience anxiety. The isolation and pressure to meet societal expectations only add to their burden.
Robin Hilmantel, senior director of editorial strategy and growth at What to Expect, echoed the Surgeon General’s concerns, describing the advisory as a “long-overdue acknowledgment” of the struggles faced by parents.
Hilmantel pointed out that modern parenthood is often isolating, with 76% of mothers reporting a lack of support.
In light of these findings, the Surgeon General’s advisory is a clarion call for a national response to a crisis that threatens not just parents but the next generation.