A culture that supports parents means believing the data

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s newest public health advisory raises questions about what sort of “shift in culture” he prescribes.

Namely, Murthy addresses “the mental health and well-being of parents.” He cites stress levels of stress, depression, and loneliness and considers the “unique stressors” that parenthood brings: finances, time, cultural pressures, and health conditions. The parent-focused advisory is pertinent to a presidential election season in which family policy has become salient.