The U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy recently released a Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Parents, focusing on the urgent need to better support parents, caregivers, and families across the country. The Advisory calls for a shift in culture, policies, and programs to foster a culture that values, supports, and empowers parents/caregivers and addresses stressors that can impact their mental health and well-being. This is essential as there are approximately 63 million parents living with children under the age of 18 in the U.S. along with millions of additional caregivers who hold the primary responsibility for caring for children. This population experiences a range of unique stressors that come with raising children with mental health conditions disproportionately affecting some parents and caregivers, including those facing circumstances like family or community violence, poverty, and racism and discrimination. The Advisory builds on the Biden-Harris Administration’s previous work to ensure families have the support they need, including increased access to paid family leave, better early childhood education and childcare, and additional investments in mental health care. It outlines recommendations for stakeholders that can help reduce stress and better support the mental health and well-being of parents and caregivers through policy changes, community programs, and individual actions.
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