Fathers’ mental health « PATH

Postnatal Depression

“A type of depression that many parents experience after having a baby. It’s a common problem, affecting more than 1 in every 10 women within a year of giving birth. It can also affect fathers and partners”.

It’s not just postnatal depression, dads and partners can also suffer with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), perinatal obsessive compulsion disorder (OCD) and psychosis.

The facts

Can affect their relationship with the baby’s mother
Can affect the relationship they have with their child
They may play and engage less with their children
They may talk more negatively about and to their children
They may sing and read less to their children
They may discipline their children more harshly
Can cause emotional, social and behavioural problems as well as developmental delay in their children
Can cause baby’s mother to be more vulnerable to maternal mental health illness
Self-harm or suicide
Fathers’ involvement in their children’s lives has consistently shown to improve child outcomes (Sarkadi et al, 2008) including better attachment, fewer behavioural problems, improved language, cognitive and social skills. See Research Summary from the Fatherhood Institute in references.

What to look out for and ask about

GP for medication and/or referral to talking therapies (IAPT) and/or secondary mental health services
Signposting for support groups and self help – please see the links below on this page

Being young
Having a low income
Being unsatisfied with the couple-relationship
Timing of the pregnancy
Poor social and emotional support (either factual or perceptual)
Financial worries – employment / debt

Maternal mental ill health
Hormonal changes
Feeling sad and hopeless
Constant exhaustion or numbness
Not wanting to do anything
Feeling unable to cope
Feeling guilty for not being happy or for not coping
Worrying that they don’t love their baby enough
Being easily irritated
Crying or wanting to cry more than usual
Not wanting to eat or being unable to eat
Binge eating
Finding it difficult to sleep
Lack of interest in their partner and/or baby
Anxiety and/or panic attacks
Finding it difficult to make decisions
Having worrying thoughts about harming themselves or their baby
Thinking about death
Loss of mother or baby
Long term illness of baby
Traumatic birth

The outcomes if left untreated

Can affect their relationship with the baby’s mother
Can affect the relationship they have with their child
They may play and engage less with their children
They may talk more negatively about and to their children
They may sing and read less to their children
They may discipline their children more harshly
Can cause emotional, social and behavioural problems as well as developmental delay in their children
Can cause baby’s mother to be more vulnerable to maternal mental health illness
Self-harm or suicide

Treatments to consider

GP for medication and/or referral to talking therapies (IAPT) and/or secondary mental health services
Signposting for support groups and self help – please see the links below on this page