Parenting can be overwhelming, and we can’t afford to keep ignoring the impact it has on caregivers’ well-being. In August 2024, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy underscored this reality by declaring parental stress as an "urgent public health issue." His report highlights the urgent need for transformative changes in how we support parents and caregivers.
"Something has to change. Supporting parents and caregivers will require a series of thoughtful policy changes and expanded community programs that will help ensure parents and caregivers can get time off to be with a sick child, secure affordable child care, access reliable mental health care, and benefit from places and initiatives that support social connection and community."
His report highlighted many of the themes we have found in our ongoing study of caregiver mental health, like how lack of information when you first become a parent can lead to stress and feelings of failure. For example, one of our participants spoke about feeling lost in regards to her newborn’s........