It’s not easy being a parent, especially to an infant or toddler when they’re not exactly able to tell you what’s wrong. It’s why the Birth to Five Helpline exists.
It's been around for 20 years, according to Jake Adams, the chief development officer at Southwest Human Development, the country’s largest early childhood nonprofit.
"I know that people are not necessarily hearing about the program or not thinking of this as a resource that is readily available and it really is," Adams said.
According to a recent U.S. Surgeon General report, 33% of parents reported high levels of stress in the past month compared to 20% of other adults.
"And that's a pretty significant difference. … And this is something that we were pretty aware of for a long time, which is why we started the Birth to Five helpline," Adams said.
And why they launched the “Birth to Five Helpline Awareness Week,” running Sept. 30-Oct. 6, to help parents learn about this free resource.
"And that's one of the things that we work really hard to invite people to pick up the phone and call our colleagues who answer the helpline are experts in early childhood. We've had nurses who work on the helpline. They have access to over 700 people here at Southwest Human Development," Adams said.
Adams says they also have something called “The Fussy Baby Program,” which provides support to parents who are struggling to comfort their baby who may cry excessively.
The Birth to Five Helpline operates Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Parents can call or text 877-705-KIDS (5437) for immediate support or submit questions at birthtofivehelpline.org.
Key findings from U.S. Surgeon general's report
Parents consistently report experiencing high levels of stress compared to other adults
According to 2023 data:
- 33% of parents report high levels of stress in the past month compared to 20% of other adults.
- 48% of parents say that most days their stress is completely overwhelming compared to 26% among other adults.
Parents and caregivers experience a multitude of unique stressors from raising children
These stressors include, but are not limited to
- Financial strain, economic instability, and poverty
- Time demands
- Children’s health
- Children’s safety
- Parental isolation and loneliness
- Technology and social media
- Cultural pressures and children’s futures
Mental health conditions disproportionately affect some parents and caregivers, reflecting broader social determinants of health
Circumstances like family or community violence, poverty and racism and discrimination, among other circumstances, can increase the risk for mental health conditions. Further, the mental health conditions experienced by parents and caregivers can manifest differently based on the gender of the parent and the family structure, among other factors.
We must do more to better support parents and caregivers
The work of parenting is essential not only for the health of children but also for the health of society. Amid a youth mental health crisis, the work of raising a child is just as valuable as the work performed in a paid job and critically important when it comes to the impact on the future of society.
