The National · 2021 · 3 min read
Daddy blues — why postnatal depression in men needs more attention
Dr Ioannis spoke to The National about postnatal depression in fathers — a condition that affects up to one in ten men after their child's birth, and is rarely recognised or treated.
Postnatal depression in men is real, common, and almost never asked about — and that is the part we can change.
Research suggests up to one in ten new fathers will experience clinical depression in the year after their child's birth. The presentation often looks different from maternal postnatal depression: irritability rather than tearfulness, withdrawal rather than overt sadness, working harder rather than slowing down. Which is precisely why it gets missed.
Why it deserves the same attention as maternal PND
The effects ripple through the family. Paternal depression is associated with poorer outcomes in the partner, in the child's emotional development, and in the relationship itself. Treating the father is treating the family.
If you became a parent recently and you feel like a version of yourself you don't recognise — please come and talk to us.
At IASO we assess and treat postnatal depression in both parents. It is highly responsive to the right combination of therapy, social support, and — where clinically indicated — medication. None of which we will prescribe without a clear reason.
Originally published in The National, 2021.