In addition to mental health issues, parenting stress has been recognized by a US Surgeon General‘s advisory as a pressing public health issue encouraging greater support and resources to provide a safety net for caregivers and their families. The Surgeon General advisory states, “over the last decade, parents have consistently reported higher levels of stress than non-parents.” The author of the advisory, Dr. Murthy says, “Parenting stress does not happen in a bubble“1 and impacts the home setting, quality of care and their baby‘s day-to-day approximation.
The advice highlights how parental mental health disorders such as chronic anxiety, untreated depression, burnout, or social isolation may have an enduring effect on a child‘s development. Children of overburdened and unsupported parents are more likely to experience increased conflict, inconsistencies, or emotional unavailability at home, which has been linked by research to being associated with increased risk of mental health disorders in adulthood. This is not to apportion blame, but to draw the desperately required focus on parent health as a means of protecting children.
Many policy changes need to be taken to have a lasting impact with respect to the mental health of parentswith parenting stress. We need to ensure improved access to affordable child care, paid family leave, flexible work hours, and improved access to mental health care for parents. Also, it is incumbent upon Our primary care providers and pediatricians screen mothers and fathers as often (or more) frequently as they do children for distress and evenrefer parents to community resources including support groups, home visitors and culturally competent counselors.
For the parents that turn to the parent advisory, this message is one of encouragement; if your tired, worried and overwhelmed, its OK to be and OK to get help. Parenting and mental health struggles are widespread, especially with the current unstable economy and civil unrest. Reaching out to a friend, partner, therapist or support group may be a bold first step toward feeling more connected.
This emphasis on parental stress and mental health by the advisory also makes a statement about how we need to change our discourse and approach to parenting more broadly. It is only by dispelling the myth that some people are “better” at parenting than others and getting rid of stereotypes about the “perfect mom” or the “superdad” that we will be able to truly recognize the difficulties surrounding this endeavor.
Source: Parenting stress is a health issue – US surgeon general’s advisory report
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