Parents report high stress tied to children’s mental health, survey finds

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to acknowledge potential struggles and prioritize well-being. For many parents, experts say, that can be especially hard.

A new survey from The Kids Mental Health Foundation found many parents say their stress is tied to concerns about their children’s mental health and behavior.

Nearly half of parents with children under 18 reported feeling stressed in the past month — 12% said “always” and 30% said “often.” Concerns about children’s mental health and behavior were cited among the top reasons for that stress, according to the survey.

Small changes can make a big impact

Experts with The Kids Mental Health Foundation say parents can take steps to reduce stress by focusing on small, consistent habits, including:

• Solo activities to decompress
• Talking with friends or family for support
• Doing fun activities together as a family

They also say many parents today feel they lack strong examples for building wellness at home — and that fear of “doing it wrong” can become its own source of anxiety.

Doctors recommend parents prioritize their own mental health because it can help set the tone for the entire household. Even small changes, they say, can make a difference.

Baton Rouge events focused on maternal mental health

Several upcoming Baton Rouge-area events are aimed at improving mental health, specifically for mothers:

• Baton Rouge Health Care Center Mother’s Day “Bloom Bar” — Thursday at 2 p.m.
• 5th annual Miles 2 Moms (2-mile walk/run) — a maternal mental health event — Saturday at 8:30 a.m.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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