“Raising children is sacred work. It should matter to us all.”
~US Surgeon General, Vivek H. Murthy
The US Surgeon General recently released an Advisory titled “Parents Under Pressure” on the mental health and well-being of parents. “Surgeon General’s Advisories are public statements that call the American people’s attention to a public health issue and provide recommendations for how that issue should be addressed” (hhs.gov.).
The key takeaway from the Advisory is that many parents and caregivers report experiencing overwhelming amounts of stress stemming from economic pressures, health and safety concerns for their children, time demands, social and cultural pressures, and parental isolation and loneliness. Additionally, circumstances such as poverty, racism, discrimination, family structure, and trauma can further impact mental health conditions. This is important because when parents experience prolonged high levels of stress, that stress is passed on to their children affecting not only the health and development of the child, but also the overall health of society.
The African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child” comes to mind with the release of the Surgeon General’s Advisory. The “village” extends beyond immediate family members to include teachers, neighbors, and community members to share in the responsibilities of caring for children. The Surgeon General emphasizes the negative impacts parents feel from increased loneliness and the importance of community connectiveness to support families. The Advisory outlines actionable steps that policymakers, schools, community organizations, employers, and individuals can take to help reduce stress parents and caregivers experience.
Parent loneliness and isolation are two of easiest challenges to correct. On an individual level, neighbors and friends can support parents and caregivers by acknowledging the challenges they face by offering connection, practical support or kind words or encouragement Making connections and acknowledging challenges removes barriers and builds community. On a community level, schools and childcare providers can create opportunities for families to engage with each other to build community, generate advocacy, and share resources. Addressing parents’ mental health and well-being is a shared responsibility that extends to every member of society. We all have a role to play.
For more information on the Advisory, additional resources, and recommendations on how to address this matter, please visit: https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/parents/index.html
This article was written by Shannon Cooke, Trauma & Resiliency Specialist at ChildSavers.
