September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and on the heels of Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s discussion surrounding mental health and stressed-out parents, it was imperative to highlight this growing concern.
I love hearing people say how new parents are “wimps” and cannot handle life the way people did back in the day.
The fact of the matter is that things are VERY different compared to when kids grew up in the 1980s and 90s. Many of the same people who complain about parents these days are the ones who had help from family members to raise their children. You could even send kids outside for hours on end (remember coming in when the streetlights came on?) and not worry about them until dinnertime.
Work demands are different (thanks to technology and companies doing more with less workforce), human trafficking is rampant, and parents must stay on top of social media and other ills that could lure their children into a world unknown to what is on the other side.
According to the CDC, Maternal Mortality Review Committees in 36 states determined that from 2017-2019, almost 23% of pregnancy-related deaths were related to mental health conditions. While the mental health condition category is vast, suicide was included and accounted for 8.4% of that 23%.
Are you listening yet?
We all know that everyone handles stress and parents differently, but one thing that should remain is the care and concern for parents as they navigate child-rearing. It costs nothing to be kind, provide an invaluable resource to someone who might need it, or check on your loved one and ask how they’re doing.
I am a huge fan of the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, and below is a link to a plethora of resources and contact information on mental health, postpartum, and suicide crisis helplines. You may not have the words or know exactly what to do, but you can direct a loved one to someone who can help.
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