For most parents, to say the COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful would be a dramatic understatement. The combination of financial pressure, loss of child care, and health concerns has been exceedingly challenging for families.
Mental health problems are expected to rise dramatically as a secondary effect of COVID-19 and the measures that have been put in place to contain it.
The potential long-term consequences on children from increased parental stress, anxiety, and depression are only beginning to be understood. However, past research tells us that the children exposed to these problems are more likely to experience mental health problems themselves, in addition to developing an increased risk of learning and behavior problems and reduced economic mobility throughout their lives.
We need to develop an approach that helps parents now and protects children’s futures.
The Rise of Parental Anxiety, Depression
In our current studies, we report that pregnant mothers and those with young children are experiencing three- to five-fold increases in self-reported anxiety and depression symptoms. A history of mental illness, current domestic conflict, and financial stress were associated with worse mental health across multiple child age groups. These figures are especially concerning because young children are highly vulnerable to maternal mental illness due to their near-total reliance on caregivers to meet basic health and safety needs.
Addressing parental mental illness not only helps the parent, but also mitigates harmful effects on child health. (Shutterstock)
Parenting stress associated with mental illness can lead to negative interactions, including harsh discipline and being less responsive to children’s needs. For parents, depression contributes to health problems and low quality of life. Suicide is a leading cause of death for women of child-bearing age that we expect to increase should high rates of mental health problems continue to be unaddressed.
Mental Health System Needs Urgent Improvement
The World Health Organization (WHO) and other child welfare leaders highlight the critical nature of prioritizing parent mental health services so that parents can build their capacity to fulfill children’s health and development needs.
Addressing parental mental illness not only mitigates harmful effects on child health but builds children’s capacities to manage other stressors, such as school transitions and other unpredictable events.
Effective treatments exist for parental mental illness; however, the high barriers to accessing standard care have become even higher during COVID-19. Existing barriers such as the high cost of psychotherapy and child care demands have been exacerbated due to physical distancing, closure of existing services, and closure of daycares and schools.
There are effective treatments for parental mental illness, but access has become more difficult during COVID-19. (Pixabay, Canva)
Shifting treatment options to evidence-based online formats has also been slow and requires substantial investments for large-scale delivery and program refinement in response to current needs. Another problem is that most existing telehealth models don’t simultaneously treat parental mental illness and parenting risks, despite substantial evidence for the importance of addressing both.
Small Steps That May Help
Although many of the causes of parents’ poor mental health are out of our control, there are small steps you can try right now:
Reaffirm that your emotions make sense. This is an unprecedented time of difficulty that comes with stress, sadness, and anxiety. You are not alone in these feelings and wondering about what comes next. Many other parents are similarly feeling distressed and trying to problem solve how to care for themselves and their families.
Talk about your feelings. Sharing your emotions with supportive partners, friends, family members, and service providers can be helpful. Brainstorming and problem solving with others can alleviate stress and improve your mood. Just the simple act of sharing can help normalize the fact that you’re working hard and still having a hard time feeling well.
Practice self-compassion. Too often we are kind to others and cruel or dismissive of our own distress. It’s important to prioritize your own well-being and self-care. If you’re experiencing stress, anxiety, or depression, talk to and treat yourself like you would a friend. Many people are not used to treating themselves compassionately, but there are resources available to help you cultivate self-compassion.
Seek professional help. If you are having persistent thoughts of self-harm, hopelessness, or an increase in alcohol or substance use that is difficult to manage, don’t wait to ask for support. If your low mood or anxiety affects your functioning at home, with friends, or at work for two weeks or more, seeking additional help to work through challenges could be important to get to the place you’d like to be.
Urgent Action Needed on Key Risk Factors
Immediate action is needed to address key risk factors across family, community, and policy levels.
The time is now for the development of a national perinatal and family mental health strategy. Early intervention investments are expected to yield high health and economic benefits by preventing the long-term consequences of parental mental illness from becoming embedded in children’s biological and behavioral development.
Investing in family mental health and parenting support now and on multiple fronts, before problems are entrenched, will yield enormous payoffs. It is one that government must prioritize as part of the COVID-19 pandemic response.
Leslie E. Roos is an assistant professor in the department of psychology at the University of Manitoba in Canada, and Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen is an associate professor in the department of psychology at the University of Calgary in Canada. This article was first published by The Conversation.
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