US Parents Are Struggling—And It’s Worse Than We Think

Nearly 30% of American parents have contemplated suicide, according to a recent report—a finding that is as staggering as it is heartbreaking. Additionally, the survey also found that 90% of parents lost sleep, 80% cried (with the number rising to 90% for mothers), 85% sacrificed other life goals, 73% lashed out at loved ones, 71% suffered health issues, and 29% considered suicide or self-harm.

Contributing to this is the state of the economy. The average cost of childcare for two children is greater than the average price of rent in all 50 states, according to a 2024 report by the nonprofit Child Care Aware of America, which also found the price of childcare is more expensive than the average mortgage payment in 45 states. 

While many may find this alarming, Melissa Saleh, a former journalist and lawyer turned entrepreneur, says it shouldn’t come as a surprise.

“This is a cry for help,” Saleh says. “American parents are suffering to the point of suicidal ideation. What more do we need before we start putting parental rights at the top of the national agenda? We need subsidized childcare, greater health coverage, better policies for parental leave, more workplace flexibility for parents and mandatory paid maternity leave. Period.”

The reality behind the numbers is clear: families in the United States are under intense pressure. The cost of childcare alone has surged by 50%, even for the so-called “affordable” options. Add that to limited support for parental leave, rising healthcare costs, and workplace structures that often penalize caregivers—and it paints a picture of a system stacked against those raising the next generation.

“We need a CULTURAL SHIFT that comes back to placing primary importance on children and families as a source of value in this country,” Melissa Saleh emphasizes. “We are devolving into a cultural conversation where children and parents are constantly judged, minimized, overlooked and devalued.”

The issue doesn’t just impact those who are already parents. Many millennial women say they want children, but feel they simply can’t afford it. At the same time, the nation hears dire warnings about declining birth rates from those in power—without any meaningful changes to make family life more sustainable.

“More and more millennial women are saying that they want children, but simply cannot afford it,” Saleh says. “Meanwhile we have billionaires at the top preaching about the dangers of the falling population…and then doing absolutely nothing to help women and parents manage the costs and burdens of becoming parents in this culture.”

The mental health toll on parents is just one of many signals that the country’s support systems are failing. But this one is particularly dangerous. Suicide isn’t a policy talking point—it’s a life-or-death crisis, especially when it hits parents, whose struggles ripple out to children and entire communities.

“We are quite literally driving parents to consider suicide,” Saleh says. “What needs to happen before something changes? Do we wait for them to start going through with it? This is a conversation about the soul of America. Without children, we have no nation and no future. Time to wake up and take this seriously.”

It’s a warning, a challenge, and a plea: start valuing families now, or prepare to deal with the consequences of continued neglect.

About Melissa

Melissa Saleh is a force of nature—former lawyer and journalist turned serial entrepreneur, masterful storyteller, and advocate for survivors of trauma. With a career spanning technology, media, and brand strategy, she has shaped the narratives of Fortune 500 giants and startups alike, helping them carve out their place in a fast-moving world. As the co-founder of FairPlayAI, she works to promote equity and reduce bias in automated decision-making.