Survey: 70% of parents, adult caregivers report mental health symptoms

Seven in 10 U.S. adults who are parents and/or care for an adult with a health condition or who is at risk for COVID-19 reported at least one recent adverse mental health symptom when surveyed between December 2020 and March 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported today.

“Of particular concern, 85% of respondents with both parenting responsibilities and adult caregiving responsibilities experienced adverse mental health symptoms, and approximately 50% reported past-month serious suicidal ideation, with eight times the odds of serious suicidal ideation compared with nonparents/noncaregivers,” the report notes. 

The authors said the findings “suggest that parents and caregivers might benefit from tailored mental health services. For caregivers, and especially persons with dual responsibilities of parenting while also caring for adults, increasing access to, awareness of, and use of support groups and respite services might help to alleviate the caregiving workload.”