Mental health struggles for parents can affect their children too

Raising a child is never easy, and for many parents, the journey is made even harder by the quiet weight of mental health struggles. New research shows that mental health conditions often affect both partners — and can deeply influence their children’s well-being.

October is a significant month for mental health awareness, marked by two important events: Mental Illness Awareness Week , observed from Oct. 5-11, and World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10. It’s a timely opportunity to highlight recent research that explores mental health and parenting.

Nearly one in four parents in the United States have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder, according to a report from the 2021-2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health . But recent data suggests that these diagnoses could have sign