Support Parents and We All Benefit
Support Parents and We All Benefit
– by Barbra Silver, Executive Director
On August 28, the US Surgeon General put out an advisory entitled “Parents Under Pressure” focusing on the mental health and well-being of parents. He wisely reflects that “many families [are] feeling exhausted, burned out and perpetually behind.” And he calls for change.
“It begins with fundamentally shifting how we value parenting, recognizing that the work of raising a child is crucial to the health and well-being of all society.”
Here at Family Paths, we have been prioritizing supporting parents since our founding in 1972 when an overwhelmed single mom recognized her own stress and its impact on her young son and decided to create the support that she needed: a volunteer operated 24/7 Hotline for parents. She knew, just like the Surgeon General states, that:
“Stress, loneliness and exhaustion can easily affect people’s mental health and well-being. And we know that the mental health of parents has a direct impact on the mental health of children.”
Today, our 24/7 Parenting Stress Helpline gets thousands of calls a year, and our evidence-based parenting education classes are regularly filled with parents eager to learn practical tools to help them with their parenting challenges. Parents want and deserve support and know that they are not alone and won’t be judged for their struggles. And although the love for their children is unparalleled, I don’t know one parent who has said their journey in parenting has been easy, especially in our post-pandemic, social media driven world. For those families who have the extra stress of living amongst community violence, poverty, and racism and discrimination, the need for support is even more pressing.
And as the Surgeon General stated, the work of parenting impacts all of us, because families are our communities, our neighborhoods, our cities and towns.
So, if you are a parent, know a parent, or had a parent, be part of the call to action our Surgeon General has laid out. Let’s empower parents, support families and heal communities. You can learn more at www.familypaths.org to get involved.
And if you are a parent in Alameda County, CA, and feel stressed and alone, call us anytime at 800-829-3777. We are here for you.
Here is the full report from U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek H. Murthy, M.D., M.B.A – PARENTS UNDER PRESSURE: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Parents