More than six out of 10 parents say they have struggled with poor mental health since having children.
One in three parents (30%) also say they are now working more hours in the past year because of increased financial pressures, the survey commissioned for Unicef UK has concluded.
More than a third (37%) say they as a result are having less time to read, play, and cook healthy meals with their child or children.
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The poll of 2,661 parents of newborns to four-year-olds painted a worsening picture of morale and mental health generally.
More than three-quarters (78%) reported that the rising cost of living had negatively affected their family life (rising from 2.36 million in 2022 to 3.12 million in 2023).
More than two-thirds of parents (68%) felt parenting was now harder because of a lack of childcare, having less time to spend with their children (64%), and fewer local support services (41%).
On top of this, 61% admitted struggling with their mental health since becoming a parent. Nearly half (49%) reported feeling “overwhelmed” in the past year as well as anxious (43%), unsupported (36%) and lonely (26%) all or a lot of the time.
Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Unicef UK, said: “It is vitally important, that families can access basic services like maternity care, health visits, mental health support, affordable and high-quality childcare and support for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
“These services, whilst essential for all, can provide a lifeline for families struggling financially and/or with their mental health,” he added.
The poll also found growing worries and fears for the future of their children. Two-thirds (66%) were worried about their child’s future life chances, 50% said they could not afford to give their child or children the life they wanted to, and 71% said they were struggling to put any savings aside for their child’s future.
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