Why Are American Moms Facing a Silent Mental Health Crisis?

Ever notice how moms are expected to juggle a career, kids, household chores, and still find time for “self-care”—whatever that means—without breaking a sweat? Yeah, turns out that’s not working so well. A brand new study in JAMA Internal Medicine just confirmed what anyone who’s ever watched a mom cry into her coffee already knew: Between 2016 and 2023, mothers in the good old U.S.A. have reported a sharp decline in mental health—especially single moms trying to keep everything together with superglue and hope . Funny how “it takes a village” sounds so comforting until you realize the village is just you, a toddler, and a pile of laundry that’s probably becoming sentient . Why is everyone so good at telling moms to “just relax” but so lousy at actually helping them out? Maybe if we all picked up a mop now and then, things wouldn’t look so bleak. Dive into the hard truths and eye-rolling realities—oh, and don’t blame me, I’m just here to rank for your favorite keywords . LEARN MORE.

A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that the mental health of mothers in the United States declined significantly from 2016 to 2023, with the percentage of mothers who said their mental health was poor increasing—particularly among those who were single parents. What do you think?

“That’s disrespectful to all the women who can’t have depression.”

Briana Lackless, Banjoist

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“I’d do anything to make my mom happy, short of calling her and having a conversation.”

Erwin Epps, Tape Spooler

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“Don’t blame me—I’m constantly telling women to smile.”

Will Mora, Heat Indexer