MOMMY AND DADDY’S LITTLE HELPER –

June 24, 2021 – “American parents have struggled with professional and family-related strain, disruption and competing demands throughout the pandemic,” said Paula Allen, global leader and senior vice president, research and total wellbeing, LifeWorks. “In addition to their own adjustments, parents have also needed to support changes their children have made over the past year. We have consistently seen that the mental health of parents has been more compromised than non-parents through this pandemic, and this data shows that they are also more prone to unhealthy coping mechanisms.”

In May, the research found that one quarter of respondents reported that their employer does (26 percent) or does not (25 percent) provide resources to help those who are experiencing challenges related to substance use. Although best practices include providing employees and their family members with access to treatment and support resources, 44 percent of respondents reported that they either do not know if their employer offers resources or are not sure what resources are available.

“The pandemic has highlighted the critical value of holistic and accessible behavioral health care and recovery support, as well as the need to make Americans more aware of the services and resources available,” said Dr. Quyen Ngo, executive director of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation’s Butler Center for Research. “Employers should recognize that mental health and substance use disorders are common, that many employees are struggling behind closed doors, and that people who get help and support often become your best employees. I hope employers see the great impact they can have by making resources available for the full spectrum of wellbeing concerns, and proactively communicating the path for their employees to access support.”

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