US surgeon general issues advisory on parents' mental health

Source: KABC-TV Los Angeles, CA/GMA

Wednesday, August 28, 2024 7:58PM


WASHINGTON -- The U.S. surgeon general is calling for a "fundamental shift" in how the mental health and well-being of parents is supported and prioritized.

In a health advisory released Wednesday, Dr. Vivek Murthy, himself a father of two, said parents and caregivers are struggling amid a youth mental health crisis, financial difficulties, social media issues and more.

"Parents typically don't talk about this all the time," Murthy said in an interview that aired Wednesday on "Good Morning America." "They tend to focus on their kids' health and well-being, but there's also this sense of shame and guilt, sometimes around struggling as a parent."

Citing statistics that show parents are consistently more likely to report high levels of stress than other adults, Murthy wrote in the advisory there needs to be a culture shift and an all-hands-on-deck approach to supporting parents from employers, government agencies, health care providers and local communities.

Read more: https://abc7.com/post/parental-stress-is-significant-public-health-issue-surgeon-general-says-new-advisory/15239099/