US Surgeon General Calls for More Support for Parents Amid Growing Public Health Concerns

The US health secretary is asking on people to support parents and young families.

IN latest warning and corresponding New York Times editorialDr Vivek H. Murthy warns that modern parents are combating “overwhelming” levels of stress, which may lead to a nationwide health crisis.

“Addressing parental mental health issues, and more importantly the stressors and underlying causes, is crucial for the well-being of children and society,” he wrote within the advisory.

In his NYT column, Murthy speaks from experience as a father of two, adding: “There are indeed many joys, but while parenting has been rewarding, the truth is that it has also been more stressful than any other job I’ve had,” he wrote. “I had many moments when I felt lost and exhausted.”

He continued: “The stress and mental health issues that parents face — like loneliness, workplace well-being and the impact of social media on youth mental health — aren’t always visible, but they can have serious consequences. It’s time to acknowledge that they are a serious public health issue in our country. Parents who feel pushed to the brink deserve more than platitudes. They need tangible support.”

Murthy cites quite a few studies that paint an image of the emotional and mental well-being of today’s parents. One such study, conducted by American Psychological Association found that 48% of fogeys feel that “most days their stress is completely overwhelming.”

Featured Stories

Murthy calls for policies that address the needs of families, including a “national paid family and medical leave program and paid sick leave for all workers.”

At the identical time, it emphasizes how vital a job the community plays in supporting the family.

“Too often, when someone is struggling, we wait for an invitation to help, or we worry that we have nothing of value to offer. Just showing up can make a huge difference to the other person,” he wrote in his column.

He continued, recalling a time when a friend showed up when his son was just 4 months old and sat and played with the newborn for quarter-hour, giving the sleep-deprived Murthy and his wife a much-needed break.

“Even that was enough to catch our breath. My friend probably didn’t notice, but that feeling of relief and gratitude is still fresh in my mind,” he said.

In other words, it still takes a village.