Namely, Murthy addresses “the mental health and well-being of parents.” He cites stress levels of stress, depression, and loneliness and considers the “unique stressors” that parenthood brings: finances, time, cultural pressures, and health conditions. The parent-focused advisory is pertinent to a presidential election season in which family policy has become salient.

Democratic and Republican campaigns have both engaged concerns over what to offer parents, policy-wise, with most debate surrounding the child tax credit, paid leave, and child care. Voices from liberal and conservative media place imperatives on sorting out these concerns. Sen. J.D. Vance’s (R-OH) backlash-fraught “childless” comments seem to have resonated with people on the Left more than they care to admit, unless the Democratic Party has always chosen to cater to married over single people.

So, Murthy responds accordingly: He recommends “shifting norms to foster a culture that values, supports, and empowers parents,” and seeks to promote Biden-Harris-era policy structures for those same issues of child care, family leave, and “historic investments” elsewhere.