Surgeon General Issues Advisory on Parental Stress
The U.S. Surgeon General has issued an advisory addressing the significant levels of stress faced by parents, calling for increased support and resources to help alleviate this public health issue. The advisory highlights that nearly half of parents report overwhelming stress, which can negatively impact both their well-being and that of their children.
| Score | Value |
|---|---|
Scale | 8 |
Novelty | 6 |
Positivity | 5 |
Reliability | 9 |
Actionability | 4 |
Society | 8 |
Journalism | 3 |
Highlights
- The U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory highlighting the rising levels of parental stress as a public health issue.
- 41% of parents report being so stressed that they cannot function on most days.
- 48% of parents describe themselves as completely overwhelmed compared to 26% of non-parents.
- The advisory calls for increased government support, including paid family leave and mental health resources for parents.
- There are approximately 63 million parents raising children under the age of 18 in the U.S.
Perspectives
- Dr. Vivek Murthy emphasizes the necessity for a cultural shift to prioritize the mental health and well-being of parents, arguing that the work of parenting is essential for the future of society and should be valued equally to paid employment. [32][33][39]
- Experts note that modern challenges, such as social media and economic pressures, have exacerbated parental stress, leading to a greater need for systemic support and policy changes to address these issues. [35][40][41]