The stress of parenting

The stress that parents and caregivers face isn't always visible, but they can take a toll and represent "a serious public health concern for our country," Murthy writes, adding that parents "need tangible support."

A recent study from the American Psychological Association found that 48% of parents said most days their stress is completely overwhelming, compared to 26% of other adults.

Stress is especially difficult to manage when you're alone, Murthy writes, "which is why it's particularly concerning that so many parents, single parents most of all, report feeling lonelier than other adults."

Parents are also short on time, Murthy writes, more so than previous generations. Research has found both mothers and fathers report spending more time working and caring for their children, leaving them with less time for rest, leisure, and relationships.

All of this is made worse by "an intensifying culture of comparison, often amplified online, that promotes unrealistic expectations of what parents must do," Murthy writes. As a result, many parents and families feel "exhausted, burned out, and perpetually behind."

What can be done to help

Murthy writes that change begins with "fundamentally shifting how we value parenting, recognizing that the work of raising a child is crucial to the health and well-being of all society," a change that needs to come from policies, programs, and individual actions.

Murthy notes that some progress has been made, including expanding access to early childhood education, maternal health programs, and the development of a mental health crisis hotline for children and adults.

But there's more to do, Murthy writes, including bolstering financial support for families through child tax credits, ensuring that all parents can get paid time off to be with a new baby or a sick child, making it easier for parents to secure affordable childcare when they need it, and providing them with access to reliable mental health care for both them and their children.

Murthy also writes that the "pervasive sources of anguish and worry that parents are often left to manage on their own," including the harms of social media and gun violence, need to be addressed as well.

In addition, access to safe, affordable before- and after-school care programs, predictable work schedules that allow parents to plan their childcare, and workplace leadership that understands "the complex demands on parents" can all significantly help, Murthy writes.

There's a role for individuals within the community to play as well, Murthy writes. "Too often, when someone is struggling, we wait for an invitation to help or perhaps we worry we don't have anything of value to offer," he writes. "Simply showing up can make all the difference in the world to another person."

Murthy told Axios that his decision to issue his Surgeon General advisory "was based on public health need. It was based on these conversations I was having with parents over the last few years around the country, where the stresses and strains on them were evident and hard to ignore."

"These are newer stresses that prior generations didn't have to contend with in the same way," Murthy added. "I want to make sure that parents know that their well-being really does matter and that caring for themselves in some of the ways we lay out in this advisory is not selfish or indulgent, but it's necessary and important." (Murthy, New York Times, 8/28; Reed, Axios, 8/28)

Use this tool to  help identify staff who may be experiencing emotional stress and prepare leaders to conduct a well-being check-in. This check-in is not aimed at solving the staff member's emotional stress in the moment, but rather is to address concerning behaviors, and ensure the staff member has the right support, connecting them to existing resources within the organization.