Thanks to a series of improvements made over the last several years—notably flexible schedules, remote and hybrid work, more diverse cultures and hiring practices, and more—the workforce participation rate of parents has soared in recent times, with conservative estimates placing this number at nearly 40 percent. Yet while more parents may be participating in the workforce, whether they are thriving at work is another matter. And unfortunately, research suggests that this is often not the case.
Per latest insights, roughly two-thirds of working parents experience burnout from balancing caregiving and professional responsibilities. In addition to the mistreatment that they face at work, imposter syndrome, and work-life balance issues, one of the leading concerns impeding parents’ wellbeing at work is their children’s health and wellbeing. According to new research from Blue Cross Blue Shield, over 70 percent of working parents say that anxiety about their child’s mental or emotional wellbeing impairs their ability to handle job demands. Moreover, findings show that more than half have missed work at least once per month in the last year to tend to their child’s mental health.
Needless to say, working parents are not okay. Neither, evidently, are their children. Recent projections suggest that, globally, at least 1 in every 5 children is grappling with a diagnosable mental health condition like depression or anxiety, as research shows that up to two-thirds of all mental health disorders begin by the age of 18. Even for children whom parents consider ‘happy’—specifically the third of parents who express only minimal or no concern about their child’s mental health—anxiety still ranks among the top three emotions they exhibit.
It’s clear, then, that something needs to be done to protect both parents’ and their children’s wellbeing. So long as children continue to suffer from increased anxiety and depression at increasingly younger ages—due to factors like climate change, war, social media, the COVID-19 pandemic, and more—working parents will continue to suffer from mental health challenges of their own. Therefore, to enhance working parents’ overall wellbeing—both in and out of work—employers need to expand on exactly whose wellbeing they feel is their duty to protect and find ways to support not just their working parents, but their children as well. With Child and Family Wellbeing, a new program launched by Workplace Options designed to help parents protect their children’s mental health whilst maintaining their own, employers can aspire to offer such well-rounded support.
In response to the rise in family or household mental health challenges—including difficulty locating or accessing appropriate support—Child and Family Wellbeing aims to expedite the time it takes for working parents and their families to receive the care they need. Comprising counseling, coaching, and case management, the program connects parents to dedicated specialists with years of experience who can provide both direct support and informed referrals to families on key topics such as:
- Helping children with anxiety and depression
- Supporting children through divorce
- Boosting children’s academic and social confidence
- Locating specialists for mood/behavioral disorders
- Accessing pediatric and parental counseling support
Eligible for families with children aged 3 and up, the Child and Family Wellbeing program is divided into three key components to ensure seamless navigation, timely assistance, and impactful results. These are:
- A specialized Pediatric Assessment to determine whether Child and Family Wellbeing is the most suitable solution, and if so, how families can best participate and engage with the service
- Short-term counseling for individuals and families, providing emotional support in the face of challenges like divorce, grief, family or school transitions, adjustment, and other common developmental, environmental, personal, and professional issues
- Dedicated Care Coach support, including a personalized care plan, resources review, and informed recommendations to additional support
By offering such structured, holistic support, Child and Family Wellbeing ensures that working parents and their families have the tools, skills, and insight they need not just to get by, but to truly thrive. Each family receives personalized guidance needed to help them navigate the complexities of their child’s—and their own—mental health; a safe space to address emotional hurdles and cultivate resilience; and matched referrals to the best resources and specialists available to receive the most effective care. This comprehensive approach empowers families to face challenges with confidence, inevitably boosting their mental wellbeing and maximizing the program’s impact.
In a time when the mental and emotional wellbeing of both parents and children is under significant strain, programs like Child and Family Wellbeing aren’t just a nice-to-have, but an imperative for organizations committed to providing holistic support. By recognizing and addressing the interconnected needs of working parents and their children, employers can create a healthier, happier, and more resilient workforce; one in which working parents are not only able to cope with the pressures of work and home, but flourish in the face of them.
