U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy warned that parenting can be harmful for the mental health of parents due to the amount of stress involved in raising children. Murthy’s warning came in an advisory published by the Biden-Harris administration’s Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday.
“Parents have a profound impact on the health of our children and the health of society,” Murthy wrote. “Yet parents and caregivers today face tremendous pressures, from familiar stressors such as worrying about their kids’ health and safety and financial concerns, to new challenges like navigating technology and social media, a youth mental health crisis, an epidemic of loneliness that has hit young people the hardest.”
Murthy pointed to his personal experience as a father of two children, describing parenting as the “toughest and most rewarding” job in his life. Addressing the impact of stress in parenting and its potential affects on American families, Murthy added, “The stresses parents and caregivers have today are being passed to children in direct and indirect ways, impacting families and communities across America.”
In a press release announcing Murthy’s advisory, the Department of Health and Human Services warned that children who have parents struggling with mental health conditions can be more likely to experience “symptoms of depression and anxiety and for earlier onset, recurrence, and prolonged functional impairment from mental health conditions.”
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In Wednesday’s advisory, Murthy said that prolonged or severe stress can have a “deleterious effect.” He noted, “41% of parents say that most days they are so stressed they cannot function and 48% say that most days their stress is completely overwhelming compared to other adults (20% and 26%, respectively).”
Murthy cited conversations he has had with parents and guardians across the country, saying, “I have found guilt and shame have become pervasive, often leading them to hide their struggles, which perpetuates a vicious cycle where stress leads to guilt which leads to more stress.”
The Biden-Harris administration’s surgeon general called for the government to implement additional programs to help parents manage their stress and mental health. Murthy suggested that the government push for more affordable daycare programs, mandatory time off work for family sickness, and more access to mental health services.
Murthy stated, “Raising children is sacred work. 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.”
