(5MinNewsBreak.com) – Amid several crises negatively impacting Americans across the country, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released a public health advisory centering on the severe impact that today’s stressors have on the mental health of parents.
Following previous advisories about gun violence and social media’s effects on youth, this specific advisory emphasizes the need for governmental and community support for parents and caregivers.
Murthy has called on various levels of government, including federal, state, tribal and local, to increase funding that aids parents.
He also advocates for the creation of a national paid family and medical leave program that ensures paid sick leave for workers and improves access to affordable mental health care for caregivers.
In an interview with Reuters, Murthy linked the well-being of children directly to the mental health of their parents.
“Behind this youth mental health crisis is real crisis with parents, where many of them are struggling with profound stress and with their own mental health challenges,” he said.
“If you really want to help kids, one of the things you’ve got to do is actually help parents,” Murthy stressed.
The advisory also suggests that employers should train managers on stress management and work-life balance.
Additionally, it encourages health professionals and social services to routinely check parents for mental health issues.
Murthy highlighted that there are approximately 63 million parents and caregivers in the U.S., with nearly half reporting that they feel completely overwhelmed by their responsibilities.
He noted that single parents, in particular, suffer from high levels of loneliness.
Murthy then asserted that efforts to implement paid family and medical leave as part of Joe Biden’s legislation were blocked by both Republicans and Democrats in Congress.
Despite this setback, Murthy remains hopeful that support for parents will overcome political divisions.
“As a country, we need to invest more in caring for … parents and supporting their well-being,” he expressed. “My hope is that … the well-being of parents would not be a political or partisan issue.”
Murthy’s term as Surgeon General is expected to end in January when Biden’s term concludes.
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