“More stressful than any job I’ve had” is the way U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy described parenting in a recent opinion piece in the New York Times. He cited a study in which nearly half of parents said their stress is “completely overwhelming.” This won’t surprise a lot of parents we hear from at the Child Mind Institute, who know well the pressures and worries he notes, from lack of sleep and affordable childcare to the anxiety of another school shooting, like the one that cost two teachers and two students their lives in Georgia last week. Families are worried about their kids’ safety, mental health, and future. As the Surgeon General’s advisory puts it: “Simply put, caregivers need care, too.”

This week we’re sharing resources to support parents who are under stress, including those who are caring for kids with mental health challenges. We offer expert advice on how to manage anxiety about school shootings — in parents and children — and how to avoid passing anxiety on to your kids. As Dr. Murthy suggests, taking care of yourself and getting help for your own mental health challenges, including depression, are crucial to the well-being of your children, too. We offer tips for preventing parent burnout and explain why it’s especially important (and sometime difficult!) for parents to be kind to themselves.

— Caroline Miller, Editorial Director | ✉