2024 Surgeon General Report
The 2024 Surgeon General Report highlights the needs of parents. The document starts with a quote “Raising children is sacred work. It should matter to all of us.” Being a parent is not easy, unfortunately, as the old saying goes, “Kids do not come with handbooks!”
Every year the Surgeon General advisory report highlights a public health issue and provides recommendations for how it should be addressed. Advisories are reserved for significant public health challenges that require the nations immediate awareness and action.
Here are some of the highlights from the document:
Parents consistently report experiencing high levels of stress compared to other adults
According to 2023 data:
• 33% of parents report high levels of stress in the past month compared to 20% of other adults.
• 48% of parents say that most days their stress is completely overwhelming compared to 26% among other adults.
Parents and caregivers experience a multitude of unique stressors from raising children
These stressors include, but are not limited to:
• Financial strain, economic instability, and poverty
• Time demands
• Children’s health
• Children’s safety
• Parental isolation and loneliness
• Technology and social media
We must do more to better support parents and caregivers
The work of parenting is essential not only for the health of children but also for the health of society. Amid a youth mental health crisis, the work of raising a child is just as valuable as the work performed in a paid job and critically important when it comes to the impact on the future of society.
The report also highlights some ways based on our roles how we can help. For example, employers can help by expanding policies and programs that support the well-being of parents and caregivers in the workplace, implement training for managers on stress management and work-life harmony, and provide access to comprehensive and affordable high-quality mental health care.
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