Depression ‘almost as common in new fathers as mothers’
‘Men tend not to complain’
DEPRESSION is almost as common among new fathers as mothers, research suggests.
Doctors found just over 4 per cent of fathers attending health clinics with their babies were depressed, compared with 5 per cent of mothers.
Experts have long known mothers are prone to chronic anxiety and low mood, either during pregnancy or soon after the birth of their child.
But the latest findings add to growing awareness that some men are at risk of a form of postnatal depression, with previous research suggesting that in addition to the stresses associated with becoming a new father, hormonal fluctuations could be a factor. fathers are as high as for mothers
The researchers behind the new but agree it is an area of concern. study, from Indiana University Dr Zeyn Green-Thompson, of the school of medicine in the Us, Royal College of psychiatrists,
said the fact that the Us researchers called for mental health screening were looking at parents at to be introduced for both child clinics meant it might not be mothers and fathers. representative, as many fathers do
Writing in the journal JAMA not attend such appointments. pediatrics, they said: ‘Guidelines… But he added: ‘The core point is emphasise the role of paediatricians not to be argued with. It’s very to detect maternal depression, important that this is highlighted but fathers have only recently – it is an aspect of perinatal mental been included in these efforts. health that has been ignored.
‘As with mothers, depression in ‘ men tend not to complain fathers negatively affects children’s about their problems and they development and behaviour, making tend not to attend follow-up children’s it a worthy target of identification appointments with their and intervention efforts.’ wives, so it is often not picked up.
British experts say it is unlikely But it is a problem.’ that levels of depression among Dr Green-Thompson, a consultant perinatal psychiatrist working in Cambridge and East london, said UK estimates for depression among fathers are usually around 10 per cent, compared with 16 to 20 per cent for mothers.
‘Fathers are transitioning into a new role, there is marital conflict, there are many changes at this time which are associated with depression,’ he said.
‘But we need to look at it differently to the way we look at mothers. If we use the prism of the mother to look at the father, we will not see clearly.’ sarah mcmullen, of the NCT childbirth charity, said: ‘Becoming a parent can be challenging and it is now increasingly recognised that perinatal mental health issues such as postnatal depression can be experienced by men as well as women.
‘Our research found that more than one in three new dads – 38 per cent – are concerned about their mental health and the mental Health Foundation cites research that found 10 per cent of all new fathers experience postnatal depression.’
she added: ‘It’s important that men are encouraged and supported to speak up about their experiences, if not to their partner, then to their family, friends or Gp.’ scientists stress that women’s mental health is affected by huge hormonal fluctuations during and after pregnancy but recent research has suggested men are also affected.
For those who experience low testosterone when their child is born, the result can be depression and low mood. But for others who have a testosterone surge, it can lead to aggressive and hostile behaviour.
Dr Darby saxbe, assistant professor of psychology at the University of southern California, said in an interview last year: ‘We tend to think of postpartum depression as a mum thing. It’s not. It’s a real condition that might be linked to hormones and biology.’