Postnatal depression in dads: The science underlining this overlooked condition
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Nearly one in four new fathers suffer from anxiety and depression in the first year following their children's birth. Should we be doing more to help them?
For women and men alike, becoming a parent is understandably considered one of the most joyful experiences in life. Yet this widespread expectation brings with it a degree of cultural pressure, especially for parents who struggle with problems such as anxiety and low mood before or after their children are born.
Indeed, a significant minority of mothers – about 20 per cent – experience depression in the months before and after their child is born (known as perinatal depression, in contrast to postnatal depression which is exclusively after the birth).
Thankfully, awareness of these maternal mental health challenges has increased in recent years. This is a good thing because left untreated a mother’s mental health problems aren’t only detrimental to her, but to her infant too.
