Stress durch Elternschaft wird endlich als Krise erkannt. Vielleicht ist es an der Zeit, den Eltern nicht mehr die Schuld zu geben

The U.S. Surgeon General [recently released a report](https://www.salon.com/2024/08/29/american-parents-are-so-stressed-out-its-now-a-public-health/) titled [Parents Under Pressure: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Mental Health & Well-Being of Parents](https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/parents-under-pressure.pdf). Initially, I felt a wave of relief — finally, an official acknowledgment of the immense stress parents face daily. But as I reflected further, a familiar frustration surfaced. We, as parents, have known this for years. Now, one of the very systems responsible for exacerbating this stress has formally recognized it. But what comes next?

For years, parents have battled a lack of support from both federal and state governments. We live in a country without universal childcare or guaranteed paid family leave, where mental health care remains expensive and inadequately covered. The reality of [postpartum depression](https://www.salon.com/2023/08/06/in-a-first-fda-approves-fast-acting-postpartum-depression-pill/) is often dismissed despite its prevalence, while affordable, accessible care is still not readily available for many women. On top of that, we live in constant fear for our children’s safety — fears made real by the [lack of meaningful gun control laws](https://www.salon.com/2023/09/04/owners-its-time-for-us-to-stand-up-against-the-second-amendment-culture/).

Reflecting on this, the weight of these systemic shortcomings is undeniable. In countries like Sweden and Denmark, where parents are supported with generous parental leave and accessible childcare, parents face far fewer stressors. By contrast, here in the U.S., where, [according to the American Psychological Association](https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2023/infographics/infographic-parents-other-adults), 41 percent of parents are too overwhelmed daily to function, we are told to simply “figure it out.” Many parents are working full-time jobs, battling financial insecurity, and trying to be present for their children, all while lacking the fundamental support they need.

Read the full story by Allison Carmen here: [https://www.salon.com/2024/09/17/stress-from-parenting-is-finally-recognized-as-a-crisis-maybe-its-time-to-stop-blaming-parents/](https://www.salon.com/2024/09/17/stress-from-parenting-is-finally-recognized-as-a-crisis-maybe-its-time-to-stop-blaming-parents/)