EDITORIAL: Getting through the parent trap

Wednesday’s editorial laid out the mental-health minefield overly stressed American parents are facing. Today’s focus: What can — and should — be done about it.

Modern parents live in 24/7 stress incubators. 

Here’s what can happen, with difficulties compounding upon one another:

Too little sleep. Poor eating habits. Little or no exercise and recreation. Not enough energy and mental stamina to raise their families properly. Problems with work. Problems with life that are, simply and sometimes devastatingly, overwhelming.

Many parents aren’t getting what they need. A 2023 American Psychological Association survey found more than four in 10 parents say they can't function most days because of stress; nearly half report feeling overwhelmed by stress.

That's why Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy's national health advisory should be a call to action for all society.

Following up on last year’s public health advisory addressing the harms of social media on young people, Dr. Murthy is now focused on the nation’s caretakers who are suffering from some of the same causes as the kids.

There’s something almost everyone can do to help — starting with parents themselves.

According to an excellent analysis on CNN.com (https://shorturl.at/5g4zE), struggling parents can ease the stress by lowering their expectations toward perfect parenting, cut back on time they spend on social media and work on in-person connections to ease feelings of isolation and loneliness.

That's a starting point that will pay dividends for everyone, including those who may think this is also nonsense and that adults should simply suck it up and move on. But who wouldn't welcome positive national economic impacts on health care and employment productivity? 

There's plenty of room for other forms of help.

Family and friends can learn about mental health challenges that parents and caregivers may face; pitch in with household or everyday tasks; and connect with parents and caregivers in their lives on a regular basis. 

Employers can support the well-being of parents and caregivers in the workplace through appropriate policies and programs; train managers on stress management; and provide better access to affordable high-quality mental health care.

Community organizations and schools can encourage open dialogue about parental stress, mental health and well-being; equip parents and caregivers with resources to address parental stressors and connect to crucial support services; and create social connections of support among parents and caregivers.

And policymakers can promote and expand funding for programs that support parents and caregivers and their families; establish a national paid family and medical leave program and ensure all workers have paid sick time; and invest at the local level to bring parents and caregivers together.

Simply raising awareness of this societal threat will make a difference. Showing some compassion to struggling parents by offering help in even small ways could help turn the tide.

To learn much more about the Surgeon General’s advisory, see: https://shorturl.at/Sn5GO