An advisory issued by Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy suggests parenthood can be hazardous to your health.
“Parents Under Pressure” attempts to address the mental health and well-being of moms and dads. The 35-page document acknowledges and elaborates on many of the challenges facing the typical American family – and then suggests what individuals and government institutions can do to help reduce the burden.
“Raising children is sacred work,” Dr. Murthy writes in the introduction. “It should matter to all of us. And the health and well-being of those who are caring for our children should matter to us as well.”
There’s no question that moms and dads face a myriad of stressors, many of which are magnified and multiplied by a culture that regularly emphasizes the wrong things and ignores the most important ones.
The Surgeon General’s report is hardly exhaustive, but like so many government-sponsored efforts, it’s still missing the mark by a long way. Two of the recurring themes throughout the advisory are “stress” and “loneliness” – two concerns known well to everyone, at least at some point in their lives.
Tragically, though, the paper is acknowledging symptoms of much larger problems – but then ignoring the root cause of both.
As Christians, we know that sin in a broken world is the foundational defect, an area and subject that you wouldn’t expect the surgeon general to acknowledge. But while Dr. Murthy makes passing references to faith and faith-based organizations in general, the report doesn’t note the overwhelming social science that shows the various benefits related to people who believe in God and are active members of their church.
In addition to connecting us with our Creator, studies show that going to church lowers depression, reduces the risk of suicide, improves cardiovascular health and positively expands our social circle of friends. In an age of increasing loneliness, church promises and provides the best company.
While the surgeon general’s advisory notes the unique stresses that single parents navigate, there isn’t any discussion about the physical, psychological and mental health benefits of marriage.
Studies show married couples have lower levels of cortisol which causes stress, suffer from less anxiety, enjoy greater physical intimacy and even enjoy a greater sense of self-confidence.
Children benefit exponentially from growing up in a home with their two married parents. They’re significantly less likely to be poor, much more likely to graduate from college and far less likely to be incarcerated. They’re also physically and emotionally healthier – and far more likely to be happily married as adults.
Acknowledging a problem but ignoring its root cause guarantees you’ll never solve it. It’s akin to a doctor putting in a drain to address internal bleeding, but never bothering to discover the source of the blood.
Many of the surgeon general’s proposed solutions are bandages that won’t stick for very long – if they stick at all.
As we have noted repeatedly, social problems begin in the home. What we’re facing now as a society are the consequences of decades of domestic neglect and a steady disregard and refusal to prioritize marriage, family, and children in our personal lives and in our public policy. It’s what happens when you ignore God or even worse, become hostile to His presence in our schools or town squares.
Since time immemorial, parents have experienced stress. The forms and sources of those struggles may have shifted as times have changed, but raising children has always been one of life’s most difficult assignments. It’s also been one of life’s greatest and most fulfilling adventures – which is why God created us for relationship and not to travel the path alone.
Image from Shutterstock.
