Vivek Murthy "Measures Needed for Parents" Recommendation Issued
"Parenting Should Be Team Sport, Not Individual... Family and Friends Support Needed"
Emphasizes Government and Social Support Such as Child Income Tax Credit
"A few years ago, when we moved from Boston to Washington D.C., my newborn son caught the flu and had difficulty breathing. I knew we had to clear his nasal mucus and keep the humidity at a certain level by running the shower. But I sat next to my wife, holding our sick child, feeling helpless in a new neighborhood without a single friend or family member. I felt lonely."
Vivek Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General and head of the Public Health Service, shared his personal experience on the 28th (local time). He explained how significant the stress parents face due to childcare is and emphasized the need for measures to protect parents' mental health.
Murthy, a father of two and a former surgeon, issued a recommendation in his name stating, "Parents have a profound impact on the health of our children and society. A fundamental change is needed in how we value and prioritize parents' mental health and well-being." This recommendation was based on conversations he had with parents across the United States since his appointment as Surgeon General in 2021.
The parents Murthy met in the U.S. reportedly said the following:
"I wake up every morning asking myself: 'Can I get through another day?'"
"I never realized becoming a parent could be this lonely."
According to a survey conducted last year by the American Psychological Association, 48% of parents with children under 18 reported feeling overwhelming stress daily. This is more than twice the rate of the general adult population (22%). Additionally, 60% and 41% of parent respondents reported difficulty concentrating due to stress and inability to function normally, respectively, significantly higher than the general adult rates of 37% and 20%.
These difficulties faced by parents appear to be linked to rapid urbanization and digitalization, which have changed lifestyles quickly, reducing the likelihood of support from extended families or local communities as before. A 2021 survey by health insurer Cigna found that couples with children (65%) felt lonelier than those without children (55%). Among parents, 42% reported feeling lonely "always," showing an 18 percentage point gap compared to 24% of couples without children.
It is estimated that 63 million parents in the U.S. live with children under 18. Murthy emphasized that these parents face challenges not only in basic childcare but also financial burdens, economic instability, lack of time, concerns about their children's health and safety, isolation, and loneliness.
Murthy expressed concern, saying, "Parents face tremendous pressure, and as a father of two myself, I feel this pressure too." He noted that when parents struggle with mental health, their children are more likely to experience depression or anxiety, and in an era of active social media use, it is difficult for parents to fully control their children's behavior.
Murthy said, "Over time, parenting has come to be seen not as a team sport but as an individual sport," emphasizing that "parents need support from family, friends, and neighbors." He stressed that this is not to discourage having children but to call for a fundamental change in how we prioritize and value parents' mental health and well-being.
He stated that policymakers should provide financial support to parents, paid parental leave and sick leave, and establish social infrastructure in communities. He also pointed out that companies need to educate managers about employees' work-life balance and expand policies and programs supporting parents' well-being. Furthermore, he urged communities to build support services to relieve parenting stress and create spaces where parents can share their struggles and build social connections.
On an individual level, he encouraged paying attention to mental health care and seeking help when necessary.
Murthy's recommendations came ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November, with both the Donald Trump and Kamala Harris campaigns proposing institutional measures such as child income tax credits as key pledges. Currently, the U.S. provides a child tax credit of up to $2,000 per child for families with a combined income of $400,000 (about 530 million KRW) or less.
Vice President Harris announced, "Middle-class and lower-income families will receive a $6,000 newborn tax credit for one year." She also stated, "After one year, families will receive a $3,600 tax credit per child annually until the child turns 17." Republican vice-presidential candidate Senator J.D. Vance argued that a $5,000 tax credit per child should be provided regardless of income.
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