The grocery cart isn’t as full as it used to be. The rent is due, and the paycheck won’t stretch far enough. The daycare bill is more than a mortgage payment, but there’s no other option—because without work, there’s no way to survive. In the quiet moments after the kids are asleep, many parents sit in the dark, drowning in worry, wondering how they’ll make it through another month. For some, the pressure becomes unbearable.
Parenthood has always been a challenge, but in today’s economy, it’s pushing many to their breaking point. Skyrocketing prices, childcare shortages, and stagnating wages have created an impossible equation, one that leaves many parents feeling like they’re failing—like no matter how hard they try, it will never be enough. The stress, the guilt, and the exhaustion can be overwhelming. And for too many, the weight of it all is leading to thoughts of self-harm and suicide.
In fact, a recent report highlighted that 30% of US parents have contemplated suicide.
“This is a cry for help. American parents are suffering to the point of suicidal ideation. What more do we need before we start putting parental rights at the top of the national agenda? We need subsidized childcare, greater health coverage, better policies for parental leave, more workplace flexibility for parents and mandatory paid maternity leave. Period,” shares Melissa Saleh, former journalist and lawyer turned serial entrepreneur.
Raising a child has never been cheap, but in recent years, the costs have exploded. Given the rapid inflation of basic necessities, it is getting harder and harder to make ends meet. Food, housing, healthcare—everything costs more, yet wages haven’t kept up.
For single parents and low-income families, the situation is even more dire. The cost of formula soared during the shortage, rent prices hit record highs, and even secondhand clothes and thrift store finds aren’t as affordable as they once were. When every dollar is stretched to its limit, unexpected expenses—like a medical bill, a car repair, or a school fee—can break a family.
“We need a cultural shift that comes back to placing primary importance on children and families as a source of value in this country. We are devolving into a cultural conversation where children and parents are constantly judged, minimized, overlooked and devalued,” asserts Saleh.
When parents reach out for help, they’re often met with judgment instead of support. The stigma around struggling as a parent remains strong, making it difficult for many to admit that they’re not okay.
The financial burden, the lack of support, and the constant stress are taking a devastating toll on parents’ mental health. Studies show that parental burnout is at an all-time high, with many experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
For some, the exhaustion and hopelessness turn into something darker. Suicide rates among parents—especially mothers—have been rising. A recent study found that maternal suicide is one of the leading causes of death in postpartum women. Fathers, too, are struggling. The societal pressure to provide, paired with economic instability, is leaving many men feeling like they have no way out.
“We are quite literally driving parents to consider suicide. What needs to happen before something changes? Do we wait for them to start going through with it? This is a conversation about the soul of America. Without children, we have no nation and no future. Time to wake up and take this seriously,” concludes Saleh.
Parents need help—real, tangible help. Policies that support working families, such as paid parental leave, affordable childcare, and mental health resources, must become priorities. Employers must recognize that working parents need flexibility, not punishment, for trying to balance their responsibilities.
Parenting has never been easy, but today’s economic reality is making it nearly impossible. The pressure, the stress, and the constant fear of financial ruin are pushing many parents to their limits. It’s time for society to step up—to acknowledge that raising the next generation should not come at the cost of a parent’s mental and emotional well-being.
Parents shouldn’t have to fight this battle alone. And they shouldn’t have to choose between survival and being there for their children. It’s time to demand better—for parents, for families, and for the future.