Many people believe postnatal depression (PND) only affects mums but it can also affect dads…
Research carried out in this area suggests that upto 10% of men who have become new dads suffer from some sort of depression whilst by eight weeks into fatherhood research carried out by researchers from the Universities of Oxford, Bristol and Rochester in the United States found that 3.6% appeared to still have some form of depression, with symptoms of anxiety, mood swings, irritability and feelings of hopelessness.

According to MIND though, depression may begin before you actually become a dad. It is said that during pregnancy relationships between dads-to-be and mums-to-be will change and may trigger the start of PND. In addition as all the focus of people’s attentions are on the mum-to-be it can leave dad-to-be feeling lonely and left out.

Becoming a new dad is a joyous but is yet emotional and can be a difficult time.
The onset of Post Natal Depression (PND) in new fathers can affect men in several ways:

• The focus of attention for both you and your partner will have moved from each other to you baby and this can feel like a loss as well as a gain.
• It can instill feelings of being overwhelmed, confused and possibly alone.
• It can make men agitated, aggressive and argumentative.
• Concentration levels will drop to a low level, as motivation is almost non-existent.
• Food may not be of interest as men may suffer a loss of appetite due to PND.
• A negative outlook is a common symptom of PND.

Ronald Bracey, a psychologist who has studied male depression, is reported to have said: “I think a lot of men feel very trapped when they become a father for the first time. Their social lives are totally disrupted and they realise that they have lost many of the freedoms they took for granted before.
“They also realise that they now have responsibilities for that child which will probably last the rest of their lives.”

What factors increase the risk of men suffering from PND?

Paul Ramchandani, an Oxford University psychiatrist is quoted as saying “Depression in fathers seems specifically related to behavioural and peer relationship difficulties, whereas maternal depression appears to be associated with a broader spectrum of child disturbance.”

Risk factors include:

Having a partner who suffers from PND increases the risk of the father suffering from PND from 3% to 7%.
Being a first time father
Being an older father
Being a less educated father
Repeated and current stressful situations
The state of the relationship between the father and the baby’s mother.

What can you do about it?

Allow time for yourself away from work and family.

Talk to your friends and family about how you feel and try to express what emotions you are experiencing.

Try to continue with your hobbies, social gatherings and pastimes.

Football matches are a good place where men express their emotions. As such attending them can do men suffering from PND the world of good. A spokesman for West Ham United endorsed this and added, “Too many young men, who are overjoyed about being a father, can also experience worry and anxiety, which can develop into depression and desperation. There’s nothing macho about suffering in silence.”
Visit your Doctor or local health center where they should be able to let you know about local support groups for PND sufferers.

Author: SuperDads

We’re here to make a difference. Superdads not only offers advice but we are her e to promote the importance of fatherhood. Many people are oblivious to the fact that Dads really do matter and this is something we’d like to put right.

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