Postnatal Depression In Fathers-
Does It Really Exist?
By Olivia Spencer
Childbirth, and childcare, used to be strictly ‘women’s business.’ It’s only within the last fifty or so years that fathers have become more involved in their children’s lives, and this often starts at their very first moments in the world. They are expected to attend the birth, be equally responsible for childcare, get involved in nappy changes and weaning, and to know all the jargon surrounding birth and all the milestones their little one is supposed to reach afterwards. But are they really prepared for this? Or are we expecting too much from the modern father? And is it going to effect their mental health?
I recently wrote a book about postnatal depression in fathers, something I feel is a woefully under-acknowledged condition. It is difficult to say exactly how many fathers suffer from depression after the birth of their child
– fathers, and men in general, don’t tend to go to their doctor when they feel depressed – but it is estimated that any number between 4 and 10% of fathers are suffering.
Postnatal depression in fathers can be difficult to diagnose. Fathers can experience the more ‘traditional’ symptoms such as a loss of interest in virtually all activities, weight loss or gain, insomnia, loss of energy, loss of ability to concentrate or feelings of worthlessness or guilt. But these symptoms can come and go, and many, such as fatigue or loss of appetite, can be part of life for any new parent, and so a father who is depressed might be misunderstood or misdiagnosed. To add to the difficulty in spotting this condition, depression is often less apparent in men than it is in women, since men tend to change their
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