Depression rates are running at an all time high and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is making a bad situation even worse. This can be especially significant for parents. According to a report by The National Academy of Sciences “The problem of depression in adults is compounded when those adults are parents because of its potential impact on parenting as well as the impact on the well-being of their children.” (You can read the entire report by clicking here.)
The report goes on to add, “Depression affects millions of U.S. adults over their lifetime, many of whom are parents with children. In a given year an estimated 7.5 million adults with depression have a child under the age of 18 living with them. It is estimated that at least 15 million children live in households with parents who have major or severe depression. The burden of depression and the barriers to quality of care for depressed adults are increasingly well understood, but the ways in which depression affects parenting, and children’s health and psychological functioning, are often ignored.”
This is an important reminder for parents. Being a parent is a difficult role at the best of times. When a mental illness such as depression becomes a factor, effective parenting becomes more difficult or, perhaps, impossible. As a result, children, as well as their depressed parents, all suffer the consequences.
The Impact of Depression on FamiliesWorldwide over 300 million people experience depression every year. Depression impacts the families of those effected not just the depressed person themselves. Approximately how many family members have been impacted by depression since the beginning of 2021?
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No one wants to be depressed! And since depression diminishes one’s ability to parent does it not follow that the best way to continue caring for our children is by avoiding depression in the first place?
Consider the emergency procedure presentation that occurs at the beginning of any airline flight. “In the event of a loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will drop from the ceiling. If travelling with small children put on your mask first before assisting your children.” The reason is simple. If you pass out from lack of oxygen you are no longer in a position to aid your children in putting on their masks. Taking care of your own needs first ensures that you will be able to take care of the needs of your children.
Now consider this in the context of depression. Continuing to properly parent your children requires that you take care of your own physical and mental health. Safeguarding physical health is something that we take for granted because we are aware of a variety of ways to accomplish this. But few consider the importance of training to ensure good mental health. (For a detailed explanation of why this is important click here.) And this is probably because there is not as much awareness of training methods designed to promote mental health and wellbeing.
But they do exist. The CognImmune IDEA program is one such method. You can learn more about this, and other CognImmune programs by exploring this website or by clicking here.
Being a parent is one of the most important responsibilities most will take on in their lifetime. CognImmune wants to help you to be the best parent you can be by preventing the onset of mental illnesses that will hinder your ability to be your best.
Will you give us the opportunity to help you achieve this crucial goal?