• New research from the UK’s largest annual parent poll reveals that A THIRD (34%) of parents say they find being a parent difficult, but mums fare worse than dads. 
  • There are 860,000 lonely parents according to the charity Parentkind and 600,000 facing serious mental health problems as a result of being a parent. 
  • Mums worst hit as TWO MILLION say being a mum has made their mental health worse in the last year.

The UK’s largest parent charity and AXA Health, a leading health insurer in the UK, today joined forces to warn the Government they face a parent mental health crisis unless being a parent is recognised as a major mental health risk. 

The National Parent Survey 2025, the UK’S largest annual parent poll, reveals mums have it worse than dads and two million mums report being a parent has had a negative impact on their mental health.

According to the large-scale survey 1 million mums say that being a parent has had a large negative impact on their mental health compared to 500,000 dads.

The National Parent Survey was conducted by YouGov in April this year with a sample size of 5,866 parents of school age children (age 4-18). The survey is the largest of its kind and contains over 134,000 different pieces of data on what parents are thinking. 

Parent Kind and AXA Health are calling for Government to urgently look at the looming mental health crisis in parents. Overall almost A THIRD of parents (30%) say being a parent has had a negative impact on their mental health, equivalent to over 3 million parents. 

The National Parent Survey, supported by AXA Health, reveals that:

  • 1 in 3 parents find parenting difficult, equivalent to 3.7 million struggling parents across the UK with big gaps between well off parents and parents the lowest incomes.
  • Mums are more likely to find parenting difficult than dads
  • 860,000 parents feel lonely every day, with a third of parents saying they feel lonely every week with 1 in 7 parents (14%) “never” speaking to another parent

Parents told the charity that their main challenges are pressures on their time, juggling responsibilities and emotional fatigue, with many feeling overwhelmed. Parents cited financial pressures, general stresses of modern life and a lack of support networks as other worries. 

Data from AXA Health supports the findings of the National Parent Survey. Women in comparison to men are struggling more with their mental health – 30% more women made a mental health claim than men in 2024.  

AXA Health is supporting the charity to give parents a voice because it recognises the important role of parents both at work and in raising the next generation of adults. Mental health is one of the leading health concerns in the UK – impacting families, parents and workforce productivity. 

Parentkind publishes the National Parent Survey each year to give “parents a voice” and highlight what parents are thinking and the challenges they are facing. 

Jason Elsom, Chief Executive of Parentkind said:

“The National Parent Survey is the UK’s largest annual parent poll and we were delighted that AXA jumped at the chance to help us publish this survey so parents are really given a voice.

“There is clearly a need to get more help to parents, with a worrying number struggling with the role, feeling isolated or struggling with their own mental health. But we also wanted to promote a more positive picture to change the narrative and make sure we celebrate their role in raising children. 

“Anyone making decisions, from the Boardroom to No 10 Downing Street should think about what more we can do to help parents with the most important job we will ever do.”

AXA Health Chief Executive, Heather Smith said:

“AXA Health is proud to support the National Parent Survey as it is a vital resource for society and decision makers to understand the experience of parents and families today, with critical insights into their health and wellbeing.

“We support individuals and families with their health and wellbeing. Over 70% of our members have a family and we know how important the health and wellbeing of their loved ones is for them. 

The findings of the National Parent Survey 2025 on parent’s mental health and loneliness are sadly not surprising. We know parents are constantly juggling work and caring responsibilities. Mental health is one of the leading causes of workplace absence so we must help to create a more open conversation about parents access support for themselves and their children so families in the UK can thrive.”

Dr Imren Sterno, AXA Health’s Lead Clinical Psychologist, shares her advice for parents who might be struggling: 

  1. Small steps:It can feel overwhelming to address our challenges and sometimes you just don’t know where to start. Doing one thing differently each day and taking small steps to making changes is the best way to start.
  2. Accept how you feel:For some parents holding it all in and putting on a ‘brave face’ is the only way they know how to cope. If this is you, ask yourself, how long will this strategy last and is it really helpful? The first step is accepting you need to be open to the idea that you might need support and that it is okay to not be okay. Hiding doesn’t help because it delays access to support and can mean your mental health deteriorates further. 
  3. Reach out and talk more:Having a chat with a friend or relative over the phone can be the next best thing to being with them. Regular communication of any kind supports our mental wellbeing. The more you talk, the more you will find you can open up too. Keeping things inside will only make them grow and will not help you address the difficult thoughts and feelings you are experiencing. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people and ask for help, companionship or just a chat. They may be feeling lonely too! 
  4. Let go of the perfect picture idea of family:There is no such thing as a perfect family or perfect parent. We all do the best we can - don’t strive for how others do it or compare yourself to others. It is always better to be yourself and build a family that is unique and makes sense to you.