American parents are feeling overwhelmed and exhausted by the “dizzying pace” of the world and it's a public health concern, according to the Surgeon General's recommendations released Wednesday calling for a shift in policy and cultural norms.
“The work of parenting is important not just to the health of children but to the health of society,” wrote U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, who is also a father of two. “We know that the well-being of parents and caregivers is directly linked to the well-being of their children.”
The recommendations state that not only are mothers and fathers working longer hours today than they did in 1985, but they are also spending significantly more hours each week on primary child care — and that doesn't include the total time they spend with their children. “The demands of both work and child care take away from quality time with their partner, sleep, and leisure time as parents,” the recommendations state. The burden is even greater for parents who are caring for elderly parents or other loved ones.
At the same time, a “culture of comparison” around life milestones, parenting and achievements – often perpetuated online – “leaves many families feeling exhausted, burned out and constantly falling behind,” Murthy wrote in his 36-page advisory.
The recommendation cited a 2023 survey of adults by the American Psychological Association that found 33% of parents reported experiencing high levels of stress in the past month, compared with 20% of other adults.
What's needed is a cultural shift, the recommendations say: “It is time to recognize that parenting is vital to society and to value and respect the time spent raising children as equally as time spent in paid work.” Parents and caregivers need social support and the ability to talk openly about the stresses of parenting. Like previous Surgeon General recommendations, they say more connection is needed to combat parental loneliness and isolation.
“The stress and mental health issues parents face — from loneliness to workplace well-being to the impact of social media on young people's mental health — are not always visible, but they can take a huge toll,” Murthy wrote in an op-ed for The New York Times. “It's time to recognize that these constitute serious public health concerns for our country. Parents who feel pushed to their limits deserve more than platitudes — they need concrete support.”
The recommendations call for implementing nationwide paid family and medical leave and paid sick leave for all workers, and increasing support for programs like child care subsidies, universal preschool, and Head Start. Employers can expand programs to support parental wellness, such as paid time off, flexible work schedules, and training for managers on stress management.
Communities, schools and health care providers can also help by offering additional testing and support for everyone, especially parents who are most at risk. The recommendations say more research is needed and encourage the development of standardized measures of mental health and well-being specific to parents.
Surgeon General advisories are public statements to draw attention to public health issues that require awareness and action. Mursi has previously issued advisories on health misinformation, the impact of social media on youth mental health and gun violence.
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