Importance of Parental Mental Health, for Your Kids

November 26, 2024 | By Kindbridge

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that nearly 20% of American adults have an anxiety disorder. Meanwhile, recent research finds that 29% report having been diagnosed with depression in their lifetime, with almost 18% reporting that they currently have depression. For parents, the self-reporting rate of generalized anxiety is higher at 43% while self-reported depression lands the same (29%) as it is with the overall adult population. Logically, chronic stress is also a big problem for the maternal and paternal order, with 48% indicating that most days their stress is completely overwhelming compared to 26% among other adults. The fourth most common mental health concern among this population segment is post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Excluding cases where which PTSD was carried into parenthood from a past trauma in their (the parent) early years or via occupational hazards (military, police, et cetera) PTSD can manifest due to an event related to one’s child. For instance, parents experience PTSD during the birth of their child. Recent data released by the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AJOG) shows that childbirth-related PTSD affects between 3% and 6% of mothers and 1.2% of fathers. Another meta-analysis of studies finds that 17% of parents experience PTSD following their child’s single-incident trauma (not a pre-existing condition) such as an injury sustained on the playground or motor vehicle accident.

On top of these common parental mental health concerns are a swath of other issues that parents (such as yourself) may struggle with. In varying capacities there are disorders that are known to cooccur with anxiety, stress, depression, and PTSD such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and bipolar disorder (BP) in addition to process addictions and behavioral health issues such as problem gambling, unhealthy gaming, and problem porn use along with other digital addictions. And then there are substance use disorders that are comorbid with all of these same concerns.

Being a parent certainly doesn’t exclude you from joining millions of other Americans who struggle with any of the above. However, it does make putting off or outright abstaining from treatment via counseling/therapy significantly more dire. It’s one thing to bypass your own mental and emotional wellbeing, but responsibility and accountability shift the second a child is involved. Please keep reading.

3 Very Important Reasons You (as a parent) Must Consider Counseling for the Sake of Your Children

I. Direct Consequences of Not Correcting Behavior

If you have any of the mental or behavioral health issues referenced in the introduction of this article, you need to know that within the list of symptoms for each are consequences that may directly cause harm to your child. Signs and symptoms may or may not be mild right now, but as time passes and underlying mental or behavioral health issues go unchecked, they could escalate. Consequences may range from household financial despair and social embarrassment to verbal and physical abuse, and more.

Kindbridge has provided a number of resources that you can reference to get a more clear idea of what consequences may come if you persist in your struggle with any of the following:

You will have found that in the long list of consequences that separation or divorce is a common theme. It’s worth exploring this further. Should your mental or behavioral health concern persist without therapeutic intervention and lead to separation/divorce, management of your mental and behavioral health becomes even more important. This is because your fitness as a parent may come into question when it comes to hearings regarding shared or sole custody. Let’s not let it get to that, or any other of the example scenarios discussed above. Call +1 (877) 426-4258 to speak to a counselor right away.

II. Consequences of Observational Learning

Adolescents learn behaviors by observing the actions and words of the adults they are most frequently exposed to. That means you. They witness how you react to challenging situations and how you cope in the face of adversity. What will they see? Will they see you take deep meditative breaths and establish a sense of calm in order to make a rational decision, or will the see you respond with an angry outburst and jump into some unhealthy coping mechanism? And what about any bad habits (or compulsions) you may have? Do your kids see you drop money into casino slots and sports betting apps, or waste hours playing video games instead of helping them with their homework or going outside to play catch?

You don’t have to have a diagnosable mental or behavioral health condition for observational learning to become a problem in the cognitive, mental, emotional, and physical development of your child. For this reason, even parents who do not struggle with any of the problems laid out thus far must be mindful of their expressed emotions and behaviors. They will very likely impact the same for their children in the near and far future alike. Sign up to speak with a counselor today.

III. Altering Genetic Predisposition?

There is a hereditary element to nearly every one of the mental health issues and process addictions referenced throughout this article. The association is well known to some, but a complete surprise to others. For instance, many people are shocked to learn that even problem gambling runs in the family.

Can a parent break the hereditary chain beginning with themselves? A lot more research is required to determine whether or not humans can evolve to alter genetic predispositions. Therefore, we’re not going to make any claims that by being among the first in a familial line to abstain from “bad behavior” you will take the first step in obliterating “bad genetics”. However, while there is no research to confirm that you can directly change your genetic code, studies do suggest that environmental factors can influence gene expression through epigenetics, potentially impacting mental health across generations. If true, you can indirectly influence the mental health of future generations by creating a positive environment and managing your levels of anxiety and stress and/or altering problem behaviors.

While you may not have the parental power to change genetic code regarding mental health, you may indeed have the power to influence gene expression. It’s certainly worth a shot for the sake of your cherished child/children. Reach out via the contacts provided below to get started.

Kindbridge offers parental mental health support in the form of accessible, confidential, and powerful virtual treatment via one-on-one therapy, couples counseling, and/or family counseling.