Stressed Parents: 7 Simple Solutions

Here is the rewritten content in HTML format:

Parents are Stressed. Here’s What We Can Do to Help Them

The United States Surgeon General’s recent public health advisory on the mental health and well-being of parents sends a clear message: parents are stressed, and it’s time to do something about it.

According to the report, parents and caregivers often face heightened stress due to financial strain, concerns over children’s health and safety, isolation and loneliness, and difficulty managing technology and social media.

Why is Parenting Stressful?

Parenting is likely harder than expected because, alongside keeping children safe, meeting their needs, time constraints, and financial worries, modern families face exacerbated pressures and new stressors.

Today in Canada, two-thirds of mothers work full-time while continuing to take on a larger share of physical household tasks and being more likely to take care of aging parents. Some parents, particularly those who face economic, social, and cultural barriers, may carry a greater burden of caregiving stress.

Over the past 40 years, fathers’ roles have changed too. There is a higher proportion of families with dads as the stay-home parent; one in 10 in 2015, compared to one in 70 in 1976. Similarly, fathers have increased participation in domestic tasks (76 per cent in 2015 compared to 51 per cent in 1986) and time spent on primary child care (49 per cent in 2015 compared to 33 per cent in 1986).

New parenting stressors include the rise in youth mental health conditions. There are also the difficulties of navigating and negotiating the ever-changing landscape of technology and social media with children, including increasing concerns about safety and impact on child health. That’s coupled with the growing costs of child care and strained finances due to inflation.

Reducing Parent Stress

Although stressors vary across families and child developmental stages, there are many common parenting struggles, including financial issues, balancing routines and schedules, navigating technology, and managing mental health concerns for themselves and their children.

To reduce parental stress and promote the well-being of both caregivers and children, we need effective policies, enhanced programs, and cultural shifts. Public health campaigns addressing these challenges increase awareness and decrease stigma associated with parenting challenges.

All messages need to sensitively address ethnic, linguistic, and socioeconomic diversity.

Collective action is needed to provide opportunities where parents and caregivers can meet to share perspectives and insights and support one another.

Some Policy Recommendations

In Canada, more can be done at all levels of government to support parents, caregivers, and their families. Policymakers should enhance financial assistance programs such as the Canada Child Benefit and Child Disability Benefit.

Although progress has been made towards child-care support, accessibility issues in terms of the availability and affordability of high-quality programs continue to be an issue for many parents.

Too many families are struggling to meet their basic needs, which contributes to parenting stress and negatively impacts mental health. Expanded funding and resources should be prioritized for food and housing security, and prevention of adverse childhood experiences.

Accessible and affordable high-quality mental health care is needed for parents and caregivers. This involves supporting telehealth options; reducing wait times by expanding and supporting the mental health workforce and community mental health-care options; and strengthening publicly funded coverage.

Resources for Parents

If you’re a parent or caregiver in need of assistance for yourself or your child, help is available. The Canadian Mental Health Association provides various resources and supports for families.

Kids Help Phone is available 24-7 for children and youth. Parents can also reach out for advice or to access online resources. You can call them toll-free at 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868.

Families Canada also provides a comprehensive overview of family support centres across Canada.

Conclusion

Raising a child is not easy, and it really does take a village. The US Surgeon General’s advisory on parenting stress was a wake-up call, highlighting what we need to do to support parents. This involves all of us – family members, friends, co-workers, employers, professionals, educators, and policymakers.

FAQs

Q: What are some common parenting struggles?

A: Financial issues, balancing routines and schedules, navigating technology, and managing mental health concerns for themselves and their children.

Q: What can policymakers do to support parents?

A: Enhance financial assistance programs, improve accessibility to child-care support, prioritize funding for food and housing security, and provide accessible and affordable mental health care.

Q: Where can parents find help?

A: The Canadian Mental Health Association, Kids Help Phone, and Families Canada offer various resources and supports for families.