Surgeon General Warns Parenting Harms Mental Health

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a public health advisory warning that parenting can be detrimental to mental health, highlighting the severe stress, loneliness, and mental health challenges parents face. Murthy called for comprehensive support from government, employers, and communities, including policy changes such as national paid family and medical leave, affordable childcare, and access to mental health resources. The advisory underscores that 48% of parents feel overwhelmingly stressed most days, compared to 26% of non-parents, with financial strain, social media, and children's mental health among the primary stressors. Murthy emphasized that supporting parents is crucial not only for their well-being but also for the health and future of society, suggesting that parenting should be valued as highly as paid employment. There are approximately 63 million parents in the U.S., and the advisory aims to address their 'silent struggles' through a fundamental cultural shift in prioritizing parental mental health.