Typically the glue that holds the family unit together, moms–and working moms in particular–are struggling with not only concerns about their kids’ mental health, but their own as well. And with pressures mounting at both home and work, many working moms believe they have nowhere to turn for help.
Declining Teen Mental Health Impacts Parents
It’s been widely reported that teen mental health has been deteriorating over the past decade. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, the number of high school students reporting persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness increased by 40% between 2009-2019. And in the fall of 2021 the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Children’s Hospital Association collectively declared a National State of Emergency in children and adolescent’s mental health.
The decline in teen mental health was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. One global study found youth depressive and anxiety symptoms doubled during the pandemic, with 25% of youth experiencing depressive symptoms and 20% experiencing anxiety symptoms.
Unfortunately, what these studies don’t show is the impact the rise in teenage depression and anxiety is having on parents. In a survey by Economist Impact, commissioned by Cigna Corporation and its health services business unit Evernorth, nearly 80% of surveyed parents reported seeing new or increased signals of potential mental health issues from their teen, including anxiety, depression, behavioral issues, and/or increased problems with social interactions.
The mental health issues impacting teens are having a ripple effect on their parents. In fact, more than a third of the surveyed parents report increased challenges with their own mental health due to the mental health issues experienced by their teens.
Moms: Overwhelmed with Feelings of No Where to Turn
With the stress of watching their teens struggle, many moms are living under a near-constant state of stress or anxiety themselves, but few are seeking support to help ease the burden.
In a separate survey of more than 2,000 moms conducted by MDLIVE, an Evernorth company, one in three moms feels overwhelmed by their responsibilities at least five days a week, and two-thirds feel they have no one to turn to for help with mental health.
And help is desperately needed, as more than a third (37%) of moms surveyed are concerned about their own mental health, second only to family finances (40%). Unfortunately, most surveyed don’t seek out the critical help they need as nearly three-quarters (73%) often put on a strong facade for their family’s sake to avoid being seen as stressed. Additionally, more than half feel like they are a failure as a mom if they ask for help and do not feel they will get the support they need to help relieve the stress and mental load they carry.
Compounding the problem is a perceived lack of employer support. While employers continue to make significant efforts to expand access to and use of mental health services, fewer than a quarter (23%) of the moms MDLIVE surveyed are currently getting the care they need from a behavioral health professional, citing barriers such as lack of time, perceived negative stigma of receiving mental health counseling, and confusion or uncertainty about where to begin.
Despite efforts to support mental health in the workplace, nearly half (47%) of moms feel they do not get enough support from their employer when it comes to mental health.
How Employers Can Provide Support
So, what can employers do to support workers while strengthening mental and emotional health in their organization? Here are three strategies to consider:
- Connect them to benefits and resources. Make sure employees know about available benefits and programs that can help both their teens and them. These can include counseling services via an employee assistance program and more comprehensive behavioral health care through the company’s health plan, including options to connect with a mental health professional virtually.
- Foster a business culture that values mental health. Setting a tone of compassion and destigmatizing mental health conditions (such as stress, anxiety and depression) can help make employees struggling with such issues feel more comfortable asking their managers or team leaders for support.
- Make accommodations. Increased flexibility in work schedules or temporary work-from-home arrangements can help parents who need to juggle their job with phone calls with treatment specialists, therapy appointments, and school meetings which all typically take place during office hours.
When employers support and nurture the mental health of their employees, the rewards are often immediate and tangible, including fewer unscheduled absences, improved job performance, and higher job satisfaction, resulting in less turnover. Lastly, companies that intentionally prioritize employee mental and emotional health are more likely to experience increased engagement (and engagement scores!), resulting in a better workplace culture.
Shakira Espada-Campos, PH.D., Director of Behavioral Health at MDLIVE.
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