Other rich nations invest much more in the needs of children and families.

Americans may not recognize that help is missing because we never had it in the first place.

Our mental health as a nation could improve if federal policies prioritized taking care of one another.

In my office: “I didn’t expect it to be so hard,” says the mother who just gave birth, the parent who is raising young children, or the young adult trying to live independently after college. There are many psychological reasons these transitional times are difficult; I listen carefully to understand the stressors my patients are facing, and then use all the clinical tools at my disposal to provide support.

That said, I also recognize their worries are amplified because of a federal government that hasn’t always cared to invest in their well-being. It may be a more difficult transition due to a lack of infrastructure support.

No Infrastructure Support After Birth

Let’s start with birth. A family is sent home a few days after delivery, with some information and a 6-week OB-GYN follow-up. The addition of a baby adds financial and emotional stress; if you are lucky, you live in one of the 14 states, or Washington, DC, that provide mandatory paid family leave, or one of the nine that support voluntary leave, paid through private insurance. So many are left without support: There is no federal program protecting wages after childbirth.

Nurturing an infant is a high-intensity, 24/7 job. Family and friends may pitch in. If you have resources, you can pay for help and child care. Families at the poverty level are eligible for Early Head Start or Medicaid, which can provide additional family and infant assistance, but the services don’t erase the stress of a new baby on a limited income. Most people reside in the middle, making too much to qualify for Early Head Start but not........

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