Since the advisory was released, I keep hearing one thing in my conversations with PEPS staff, our board, and members of our community: they feel seen. So many parents have been struggling and wondering if it’s just them. But, as we often hear in PEPS Groups, parents are not alone in feeling stressed and overwhelmed.
One (of many) dire statistics from the advisory: 48% of parents say their stress is completely overwhelming most days.
The advisory highlights how today’s parents are facing additional challenges on top of the traditional stressors of parenthood; issues like social media, an epidemic of loneliness, and the youth mental health crisis add new complexities to parenting today.
“As technological and economic forces have reshaped the world at a rapid pace, parents may find it more difficult to prepare children for a future that is uncertain.”
U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Mental Health & Well-Being of Parents
The findings in the advisory may be heavy, but the Surgeon General offered recommendations for how we can address this issue. The advisory calls for fostering a culture of connection among parents to combat loneliness and isolation. More than half of parents report feeling lonely, and we know that parenting is far more difficult when done in isolation. The advisory highlights the importance of creating spaces for parents to have an open dialogue about the challenges of parenting, which helps combat feelings of shame and guilt and foster mutual support.
And guess what? That’s exactly what we do at PEPS — and what we have been doing for the past 40 years. We strive to make every PEPS Group a safe space for parents to talk openly about their highs and lows, their struggles, and stressors. So much is built from that foundation of families sitting in a circle together – community, care, mutual support and reciprocity, celebration, joy, laughter, and more. Social connection and community are an antidote to stress.
Dr. Murthy has spoken: the well-being of parents and caregivers is a critical public health priority. So now what? What can we do?
On an individual level:
On a community level:
On a systems level:
Public advisories from the nation’s top doctor can be turning points in American life. As the former Surgeon General said in his advisory, caregivers need care, too. As a society, we need to invest in and value parenting and caregiving because the stress of parents directly impacts the stress of kids. Simply put, when parents and caregivers are well, their children thrive, and that helps build a brighter future for all of us.
As Dr. Murthy finished his second term as Surgeon General, he gave us the gift of a Parting Prescription for America. In it, he reflects on his service and what he learned from listening to people across the country.
“Like most people, I sometimes find myself worried about whether I’m achieving enough, getting enough recognition, or making enough money. In those moments, I think about the patients I cared for at the end of their lives and what they shared with me about what made for a fulfilling life. It was never the size of their bank accounts, the number of their followers, or their list of achievements. It was always about people. The people they loved. The people they served. The people whose lives they touched. In the end, when only the most meaningful strands of life remain, this is what matters. America and the world need a new generation of community builders.”
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s Parting Prescription for America
By investing your time, energy, and resources in improving life for parents and families, you can be part of a groundswell of change.
Dana Guy is the Executive Director of PEPS, providing strategic leadership and cultivating our mission, vision, values and commitment to racial equity. She oversees programming, fundraising and operations, and fosters an inclusive and supportive organizational culture. Dana is a strong believer in the power of social connection, leads with passion for equity, authenticity and transparency and is a champion for learning and growth.