Introduction
Evidence from numerous nations indicates that the unpredictable COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns have affected people’s mental health worldwide. Additional difficulties brought on by the pandemic include parental stress, concerns for their family’s health and well-being, and managing childcare. At the same time, it is widespread, and they are often unable to spend enough time with their children.
Despite the many issues, there is little information on how COVID-19 affects parents’ mental health, so this is an essential area of focus. According to Asmundson et al. (2020), the Mental Health Commission of Canada discovered that with 20% of adults experiencing mental health issues annually, Canada has one of the highest reported mental health disorders worldwide. It is crucial to comprehend how common mental health problems are among parents.
These disorders may become even more severe during the pandemic due to social isolation, ongoing long-term stress that follows temporary lockdowns, and other factors. This paper reviews the pertinent research and examines how the pandemic has impacted parents’ mental health. This review specifically addresses three crucial topics: The prevalence of mental health problems among parents during the pandemic, management and intervention techniques used to lessen the effects of the pandemic on parents’ mental health, and the pandemic’s effects on policy and practice.
Literature Review
The Prevalence of Mental Health Issues Among Parents During the Pandemic
Incomparable difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted parents’ mental health and well-being. Numerous studies and surveys have been conducted worldwide, including in Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, to determine the prevalence of mental health issues among parents during the pandemic (Gadermann et al., 2021). The evidence shows that due to the pandemic’s effects on their daily lives and responsibilities, parents have experienced elevated stress levels, anxiety, depression, and burnout.
Stress Among Parents During the Pandemic
A survey conducted by Global News revealed alarming data on parental stress in Canada. Almost one-third of parents reported experiencing very high stress levels, and another 27% reported experiencing high levels of stress (Calvano et al., 2023). Parents’ stress levels increased due to the pandemic’s uncertainties, financial instability, and difficulties juggling work and childcare responsibilities.
Other nations reported seeing comparable trends; parents in the US, India, and China studies also reported feeling more stressed than usual. Parental stress and anxiety increased due to the demands of homeschooling, the unpredictability of the economy, and health issues (Calvano et al., 2023). The fact that mothers, in particular, reported higher levels of stress than fathers should be noted. This is probably because of traditional gender roles and the disproportionate burdens placed on women during the pandemic.
Anxiety and Depression Among Parents
According to a Canadian survey by Global News, two-thirds of parents reported feeling anxious due to the pandemic. Mothers had higher anxiety levels, consistent with other surveys conducted in Italy, Spain, and the UK (Codagnone et al., 2020). Parental anxiety has significantly increased due to the pandemic’s uncertainties and infection fear, which has raised more awareness of mental health issues.
Additionally, the pandemic has resulted in a noticeable rise in depression among parents. A parenting website in the UK conducted a survey, and the results showed that 36.7% of parents had depression, compared to 7.7% of non-parents (Codagnone et al., 2020). In Spain, mothers reported twice as many cases of depression as fathers did, demonstrating the pandemic’s gender-specific impact on parental mental health. The effects of the pandemic on parents’ mental well-being are not limited to any specific region. Feelings of parental burnout, particularly among homeschooling parents, were exacerbated by the difficulties of working from home, homeschooling, and the lack of social support.
Impact of Homeschooling on Parental Mental Health
During the pandemic, homeschooling became a significant source of stress for parents. According to research done in the UK, 70% of parents reported feeling overburdened by the demands of homeschooling (Chen et al., 2021). For parents, the abrupt transition to remote learning and the duty of assisting their children’s education presented formidable obstacles. Moreover, parents had to adjust to new teaching techniques quickly while homeschooling their children to manage their work obligations. Parents’ stress and worry increased due to a lack of educational resources and concerns that their children would fall behind academically.
Strategies and Interventions to Help Manage the Impacts of COVID-19
According to surveys done to assess how the pandemic has affected parents’ mental health, there is a lot of stress, anxiety, depression, and parental burnout among parents. Interventions and parenting pandemic support strategies are required to help manage and lessen these effects (Chen et al., 2021). In the United States, structured interventions such as mental health days have been successfully implemented.
Parents can take time off from pandemic-related family responsibilities on mental health days to concentrate on their mental health and well-being (Chen et al., 2021). These days can be utilized for self-care and relaxation, socializing with friends, or participating in physical or recreational activities (Chen et al., 2021). By implementing mental health days, parents can take a break from their parental duties and concentrate on their well-being, which can help them feel less stressed and anxious.
Additionally, it has become more and more common to use online support groups to help parents during the pandemic. Online support groups allow parents to communicate with people going through similar situations and share pandemic management and coping techniques (Kandula & Wake, 2022). These groups enable parents to express their ideas, emotions, and experiences, while fostering a sense of belonging and community that they might not otherwise have. Parents can learn more about the difficulties they are facing due to the pandemic from these support groups and receive advice on how to address these problems.
The lack of access to mental health services has been a significant issue for parents during the pandemic. Parents need mental health services, but studies have shown that they may be hesitant to get them for various reasons, including stigma and a desire to stay inside during the pandemic (Kandula & Wake, 2022). Numerous organizations have opened access to mental health services like counseling and psychological support to combat this issue. Furthermore, some states have passed legislation that makes it easier for low-income families to access mental health services, giving parents the support and resources they require during this trying time (Kandula & Wake, 2022).
Providing resources for parents to support their children’s mental health has also received more attention. Children have been under much stress due to the pandemic, so parents need to be given the tools and techniques to help them manage their kids’ mental health (Kandula & Wake, 2022). Several organizations have launched initiatives to help parents better understand their children’s needs during the pandemic and advise them on how to help their children cope with the stress, anxiety, and uncertainty of the pandemic. These resources include articles, online videos, and instructional materials.
Implications for Policy and Practice
The COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on parents’ mental health necessitate specialized interventions and coping mechanisms to help them overcome these trying times. Creating practices and policies that offer tools and services to address parents’ mental health needs must be a top priority for organizations and policymakers (Tall & Biel, 2023). The following have implications for policy and practice: Providing resources and services, dealing with systemic issues, raising awareness of mental illness, incorporating mental health into the curriculum, and bolstering community support for mental health.
Providing Resources and Services for Parents
There is a critical need for more extensive programs and services to support parental mental health. To better address the mental health needs of parents, policy changes such as reducing financial burdens and providing mental health days must be made (Tall & Biel, 2023). Due to their accessibility and affordability, telehealth services are a crucial resource for parents. However, government funding, approval, and regulations should emphasize enhancing access to these services.
More financial support for low-income families, such as direct financial assistance and expanded unemployment benefits, can give them financial relief and improve mental health outcomes because financial stress is exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also essential to address the pervasive problem of gender discrimination, exacerbated by childcare costs (Tall & Biel, 2023). Shifting roles and responsibilities of caregiving should be supported and encouraged through flexible work schedules, paid paternity and parental leaves, and childcare support networks.
Parents have been unable to get the services and resources they require because of the historical stigma associated with mental health. By offering education, running support campaigns, and incorporating mental health into the school curriculum, awareness of mental health issues should be continuously raised (Tall & Biel, 2023). There is no denying the significance of allocating resources and services to support parents’ mental health better. Support should be given in a way that considers their mental health needs. Another crucial tactic to enhance parents’ long-term mental health is funding mental health research and developing evidence-based policy formulation interventions.
Addressing Systemic Factors
Policymakers must acknowledge systemic factors’ profound impact on parents’ mental health. These systemic factors combine to worsen parents’ mental health outcomes, from unhealthy workplace pressures to the unequal division of labor at home. Parents’ mental health can be improved by investing in programs that can lessen financial strain, such as direct financial assistance, expanded unemployment benefits, and increased economic security (Tall & Biel, 2023). To address the unequal distribution of labor and the burden of care, it is also crucial that policymaking incorporates a gender perspective.
Rebalance the workload and encourage more shared caregiving responsibilities by encouraging more flexible work schedules for both parents and more paid leave days for fathers. When addressing systemic factors affecting parents’ mental health, it is also crucial to consider better access to affordable childcare and other social support (Tall & Biel, 2023). Despite the pandemic’s adverse effects on mental health, it has also brought attention to the value of mental health and the need to lessen the stigma surrounding it. Public education campaigns about mental health should be a part of these initiatives so that parents can access the information and tools they need to seek mental health treatment.
Promoting Mental Health Awareness
The pandemic’s increased focus on mental health issues has increased awareness of the significance of promoting mental health. Parents may find ways to get help without worrying about being judged or stigmatized if public campaigns that normalize conversations about mental health are successful (Wiedermann et al., 2023). Given the widespread prevalence and variety of mental health conditions, school curricula should include mental health education.
Evidence-based knowledge and skills, as well as terminology for discussing mental health, should be incorporated into school curricula (Wiedermann et al., 2023). Additionally, cultivating emotional well-being should be emphasized. Children should be involved in conversations and experiences about mental health in addition to just receiving information in this regard. These lessons help kids better understand their parents’ mental health struggles and strengthen their relationships with them.
Integrating Mental Health into Education
Mental health must be integrated into education to achieve better results in this area. Schools may offer social and emotional learning programs and mental health training as forms of support for students’ mental health (Wiedermann et al., 2023). This can be accomplished by emphasizing the use of evidence-based training practices and by educating not only students but also parents and staff.
The primary focus of training should be therapeutic skills, including recognizing mental health warning signs, providing self-care resources, and developing general skills in handling difficult conversations and mental health crises. Additionally, the curriculum should cover mental health issues, making them a component of standard coursework. Including mental health education in the core curriculum has the added benefit of helping children better understand their parents’ struggles and promoting in-depth discussions about mental health with their parents (Wiedermann et al., 2023). Parent educators and school support groups may enhance parents’ understanding of their children’s mental health.
Strengthening Community Support
In addition to offering resources and services, policymakers must also consider enhancing community support networks for parents. Parenting classes, support groups, and online or in-person events are a few examples of social support programs that can help parents connect, reduce isolation, and foster a sense of connection and belonging. Creating physical or virtual support networks can facilitate better access to resources and services. Parents in need can significantly benefit from initiatives such as offering peer support, developing mentorship and tutoring programs, and creating safe spaces for conversations about mental health (Wiedermann et al., 2023). Moreover, local government should work with health services to expand access to psychological services such as counseling for needy parents and psychological first aid.
Long-Term Mental Health Planning
Planning for long-term mental health is necessary due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s lingering effects. The pandemic’s physical, economic, and social effects on parental mental health and the long-term effects it will have on parent and child mental health must be understood by policymakers (Tall & Biel, 2023). Therefore, governments and other organizations should invest in mental health research to find ways to enhance parents’ well-being beyond the immediate needs of the pandemic.
One of the most crucial aspects of long-term mental health planning is the use of evidence-based interventions (Asmundson et al., 2020). Practical strategies that address the systemic problems connected to parental mental health should be the primary focus of such interventions. Implementing strategies to ensure the sustainability and continuity of the interventions after the pandemic is over is also necessary.
Conclusion
This research paper reviewed the literature on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected parents’ mental health. According to the findings, the pandemic is causing parents to experience high-stress levels, anxiety, depression, and parental burnout. There is a need for interventions and strategies, such as mental health days, online support groups, and improved access to mental health services, to support parents during this trying time. In addition, when creating policies and interventions to support parents, policymakers should consider the systemic factors that affect their health. These findings suggest that policies that address systemic factors and give them resources and support are necessary to ensure parents’ mental health and well-being throughout the pregnancy.
References
Asmundson, G. J. G., Blackstock, C., Bourque, M. C., Brimacombe, G., Crawford, A., Deacon, S. H., McMullen, K., McGrath, P. J., Mushquash, C., Stewart, S. H., Stinson, J., Taylor, S., & Campbell-Yeo, M. (2020). Easing the disruption of COVID-19: Supporting the mental health of the people of Canada—October 2020—an RSC policy briefing. FACETS, 5(1), 1071–1098.
Calvano, C., Engelke, L., Anna Katharina Holl-Etten, Renneberg, B., & Winter, S. (2023). Almost 2 years into the COVID-19 pandemic: An update on parental stress, parent mental health, and the occurrence of child maltreatment.
Chen, Y., Zhang, X., Chen, S., Zhang, Y., Wang, Y., Lu, Q., & Zhao, Y. (2021). Bibliometric analysis of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 65, 102846.
Codagnone, C., Bogliacino, F., Gómez, C., Charris, R., Montealegre, F., Liva, G., Lupiáñez-Villanueva, F., Folkvord, F., & Veltri, G. A. (2020). Assessing concerns for the economic consequence of the COVID-19 response and mental health problems associated with economic vulnerability and negative economic shock in Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. PLOS ONE, 15(10), e0240876.
Gadermann, A. C., Thomson, K. C., Richardson, C. G., Gagné, M., McAuliffe, C., Hirani, S., & Jenkins, E. (2021). Examining the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on family mental health in Canada: findings from a national cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 11(1), e042871.
Kandula, U. R., & Wake, A. D. (2022). Magnitude and factors affecting parental stress and effective stress management strategies among family members during COVID-19. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 15, 83–93.
Tall, J., & Biel, M. (2023). The effects of social determinants of health on child and family mental health: Implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Ueda, M., Nordström, R., & Matsubayashi, T. (2021). Suicide and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. Journal of Public Health.
Wiedermann, C. J., Barbieri, V., Plagg, B., Marino, P., Giuliano Piccoliori, & Engl, A. (2023). Fortifying the foundations: A Comprehensive approach to enhancing mental health support in educational policies amidst crises. 11(10).