The U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy is commiserating with parents across the country as he warned that raising children in the current economic and social climate is a threat to mental health.
American Parents Face Unprecedented Stress
The 47-year-old father and top U.S. health official said in an advisory that the level of stress among American parents is at an all-time high and represents dangerous levels of stress.
Impact of Parental Stress on Children
Dr. Murthy said, “The stresses parents and caregivers have today are being passed to children directly and indirectly, impacting families and communities across America.”
The Joy and Challenges of Parenthood
Murthy spoke of feeling “blessed” to be a father, calling it the “toughest and most rewarding” job while also calling attention to the burdens and responsibilities accompanying that sacred role in the current environment for many families experiencing difficulties making ends meet.
Alarming Statistics on Parental Stress
His advisory included the data that 41 percent of parents say they are “so stressed most days they can’t function.” As many as 48 percent say that their level of stress is “overwhelming.”
New Challenges for Modern Parents
The stresses of parenthood are similar to those of previous generations. Still, they go beyond those stresses to include new challenges such as social media, the epidemic of youth mental health crises, and the “epidemic of loneliness.” Murthy said it impacts teens, young adults, and their parents.
Policy Recommendations to Ease Parental Stress
Murthy recommends enacting policy changes to alleviate the financial burden on parents for childcare, which would lessen the stress burden on them.
Support for Parents Through Policy Changes
Another policy prescription promoted by Murthy is to make it easier for parents to care for children, such as providing leave for them to care for sick relatives.
Addressing the Impact of Social Media on Youth
Murthy’s Administration also advocated earlier this year to force social media platforms to publish warning labels on content that could have a negative mental health impact on teens and young adults.
Guilt and Shame Among Parents
Murthy said, “In my conversations with parents and caregivers across America, 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.”
Cultural Norms and Support for Parents
In addition to policy changes, Murthy also suggested that deeper cultural norms must shift to better support parents who choose to take on the challenge of raising the next generation.
The Sacred Duty of Raising Children
He said, “Raising children is sacred work. It should matter to all of us. And the health and well-being of those caring for our children should also matter to us.”
Political Responses to the Parental Stress Crisis
Both top Presidential candidates offer limited solutions to the problem. Democrats tend to support Murthy’s proposal, which includes government financial aid, child tax credits, universal preschool, more early education programs for underprivileged families, and mandated paid leave and sick time.
Republican Views on Family Support Policies
Republicans also espouse proposals aimed at helping those raising the next generation, including considerations on how to help families retain more of their income rather than handing it over to government accounts.
Republican Vice Presidential nominee J.D. Vance suggested that financial struggles are preventing young adults from procreating. He champions doubling the child tax credit, saying, “We think it should be bigger [than Biden’s proposal].”
A Bipartisan Push for Pro-Family Policies
The chance for some potential change is real, as all four top candidates, including Vice President Kamala Harris, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, former President Donald Trump, and Vance, have all individually advocated for changes “on paid leave and pro-family policy in ways that we haven’t seen in a suite of candidates,” according to Adrienne Schweer of the Bipartisan Policy Center.
