Parents Under Pressure: The Critical Link Between Parental Mental Health and Children's Long-Term Well-Being

December 6, 2024

On Friday, December 6, 2024, the Child Well-Being pathway at the Boston Foundation held a webinar as part of their Coffee and Conversation series, reviewing the recent report from the U.S. Surgeon General, Parents Under Pressure: The Critical Link Between Parental Mental Health and Children's Long-Term Well-Being and discussing the often-overlooked struggles of parents regarding their mental health and the impact these challenges may have on their children.  

Antoniya Marinova, Associate Vice President of Programs at the Boston Foundation, opened the forum by emphasizing how parental mental health directly shapes children’s growth and resilience. She outlined the forum's purpose: to brainstorm practical approaches for bolstering support for parents and caregivers.   

“How do we, together, contribute to a stronger, more supportive system in which every family has the resources they need to thrive?” Marinova asked. 

She then welcomed Sue Covitz, Executive Director of Families First, to review the recent Surgeon General’s report. Covitz provided an overview of the report, which revealed that:   

  • Parents consistently report experiencing higher levels of stress than other adults.
  • Parents and caregivers face unique stressors stemming from raising children.
  • Mental health conditions disproportionately affect certain parents and caregivers, reflecting broader social determinants of health. 

Covitz shared a compelling quote from the report: “Something has to change. It begins with fundamentally shifting how we value parenting, recognizing that the work of raising a child is crucial to the health and well-being of all society. This change must extend to policies, programs, and individual actions designed to make this vital work easier.” 

She highlighted the Ripple Program at Families First as a solution to alleviate parental pressure. Based on the “Ripple Effect” Theory of Change (Henderson & Gill Kressley, 2016), the program focuses on empowering parents through leadership training, staff development, and fostering collaboration between parents and teachers. This approach ensures parents are included in decision-making processes.   

Covitz shared notable outcomes from the program, showing its positive impact on caregivers and communities:   

  • 67% of parents reported improving their physical, mental, or emotional health due to the program.
  • 95% of parent participants began sharing resources with other parents.
  • 72% became better advocates for their children.   

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE RECORDING

View the presentation slides

Agenda

Welcome 
Antoniya Marinova, Associate Vice President, Programs, The Boston Foundation 

Review of Research
Sue Covitz, Executive Director, Families First

Panel Discussion and Q&A
Itza Gil Berrios, Parent Partner, MassGeneral Hospital Chelsea
Dr. Alexy Arauz Boudreau, Associate Chief of Pediatrics for Primary Care, MassGeneral Hospital for Children
Dr. Charles Clayton Daniels, Jr., Co-founder and CEO, Father’s Uplift
Aditi Subramaniam, Director, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Policy, MA Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Danubia Camargos Silva, Senior Program Officer, Child Well-Being, The Boston Foundation (Moderator)

Closing Remarks 
Danubia Camargos Silva, Senior Program Officer, Child Well-Being, The Boston Foundation 

Danubia Camargos Silva, Senior Program Officer of Child Well-Being at the Boston Foundation, introduced the panel of experts to the webinar: Itza Gil Berrios, Parent Partner at MassGeneral Hospital Chelsea; Dr. Alexy Arauz Boudreau, Associate Chief of Pediatrics for Primary Care at MassGeneral Hospital for Children; Dr. Charles Clayton Daniels, Jr., Co-founder and CEO of Father’s Uplift; and Aditi Subramaniam, Director of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Policy at MA Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.  

Camargos Silva opened the discussion by asking the panel how they define mental health in the context of children and caregivers.   

Itza Gil Berrios shared her perspective, stating that “mental health is an engine that drives your life every day.” She explained that mental health acts as a mirror in child-caregiver relationships. A caregiver’s reactions to situations model emotional responses for their child. Gil Berrios noted that children’s and caregivers’ mental health are deeply interconnected, functioning as a unit.   

Dr. Alexy Arauz Boudreau highlighted the caregiver-child relationship as the foundation for a child’s sense of safety and resilience. She explained that a caregiver’s consistent attention to a child’s needs fosters trust and a feeling of security, enabling the child to safely explore the world. Dr. Arauz Boudreau emphasized that children absorb mental and emotional cues from their caregivers. She also noted that trauma can alter DNA over generations, stating, “We carry our ancestors’ strength and our ancestors’ trauma.”   

Dr. Charles Daniels addressed the systemic oppression faced by Black and Brown families, sharing that 9.7 million Black adults experienced substance use disorders or mental illness in the past year, with most not seeking treatment. Dr. Daniels linked this to higher rates of father absence in these communities and urged the panel to consider the broader societal effects of oppression.   

Aditi Subramaniam shared her experiences as a mother, contrasting the communal support she witnessed in India with the isolation often felt by mothers in American culture. She advocated for a stronger community emphasis on supporting mothers, fostering connections, and offering services to those in need. “This is all our business,” she said, emphasizing the importance of creating a relational system framework that centers the caregiver-child relationship.  

Dr. Arauz Boudreau concluded by advocating for a societal shift that prioritizes the well-being of caregivers. She posed the question, “What if we oriented our society to understand that we should be taking care of the most vulnerable?”   

The panel agreed on the need for greater support from schools, foundations, Americans with Disabilities Act agencies, and policy changes, including expanding interstate compacts to allow practitioners to work across state lines.   

Danubia Camargos Silva closed the forum with a powerful message: “My hope after this is that members in the audience realize the role that each and every one of us plays… In order to care for the next generation of leaders, we have to care for the whole community.”