Abstract
BackgroundTo date, information and support has been focused on mothers, with evidence that healthcare professionals overlook fathers’ mental health, and that fathers receive little or no support for themselves during the perinatal period. However, recently, fathers’ mental health has become an area of interest.MethodsThis study explored the support fathers receive for their own mental health during the perinatal period. A qualitative questionnaire was distributed on social media networks and completed by twenty-nine fathers.ResultsThematic analysis produced three main themes: Factors Influencing Fathers’ Mental Health, Consequences of Poor Mental Health in Fathers and Solutions to Improve Fathers’ Mental Health.ConclusionsThe findings from this study highlighted important implications about fathers’ mental health and the need to support them more effectively. Fathers’ reluctance to seek support and the limited support available need to be addressed. Fathers in this study perceived that perinatal health professionals view ‘mothers as the priority’. It is clear that health professionals need more training on how to recognise that fathers are also important and need support for their mental health.
Highlights
To date, information and support has been focused on mothers, with evidence that healthcare professionals overlook fathers’ mental health, and that fathers receive little or no support for themselves during the perinatal period
Fathers’ believed their risk of experiencing mental health problems during the perinatal period was influenced by a range of external factors including unmet expectations, lack of support for fathers’ mental health, difficulties being male in a female environment and the stability of their relationship with their partner, and had significant consequences for fathers including uncertainty and changes in both personality and behaviour
Most participants were unaware fathers could suffer perinatal mental health problems, often questioning the legitimacy of their own experiences. This may be because perinatal healthcare professionals are often unaware of fathers’ mental health; Massoudi [24] reported that most nurses failed to recognise or attend to fathers’ emotions and distress during the birth
Summary
Information and support has been focused on mothers, with evidence that healthcare professionals overlook fathers’ mental health, and that fathers receive little or no support for themselves during the perinatal period. Paternal postpartum depression is prevalent in 4–25% of new fathers during the first 12 months after birth, but due to a lack of awareness and recognition of symptoms prevalence is likely underreported [7]. Estimated rates of depression range from 24 to 50% for men with partners who experience maternal postpartum depression in the 12 months after birth [8]. During their partners’ pregnancy, only 3.2% of 2000 fathers reported seeking help for depressive symptoms [9], in comparison to 13.6% of women [10]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
