US Surgeon General warns parents' stress levels are an 'urgent public health issue'

United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on Wednesday issued a public health advisory that emphasized the importance of mental health in parents.

Murthy claimed in a post by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that parents over the past decade have consistently been more likely to report high stress levels than in the past.

"Parents have a profound impact on the health of our children and the health of society," Murthy wrote in a statement. "Yet parents and caregivers today face tremendous pressures, from familiar stressors such as worrying about their kids’ health and safety and financial concerns, to new challenges like navigating technology and social media, a youth mental health crisis, and an epidemic of loneliness that has hit young people the hardest.

"As a father of two kids, I feel these pressures, too," he added.

Murthy said some of the biggest causes of these stressors have been navigating things like the COVID-19 pandemic, along with dealing with loneliness and concerns about financial stability. School safety was also noted as a concern.

The advisory also noted that 30% of parents reported high levels of stress within the past month, while 20% of older adults did so. As many as 41% of those parents said the stress has made it difficult for them to function, and 48% said the stress is "completely overwhelming."

Murthy's advisory encouraged governments and employers to build in programs to ensure parents can access mental health care, and have paid family and medical leave. 

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.