June 22nd, the day after Father’s Day, was the fourth annual International Father’s Mental Health Day (IFMHD). It was found in June 2016 by Mark Williams (UK) and Dr Daniel Singley (USA). Since then, it has grown into a multi-national event, raising awareness about fathers’ mental health. The US team also includes Dr David Levine, a pediatrician based in New Jersey, who also has his own experience of living with postnatal mental health difficulties. Dr Bronwyn Leigh, Director of the Centre of Perinatal Psychology in Australia, represent the team from ‘down under’. This year, Linos Muvhu has joined the global team from Zimbabwe as the African Ambassador. The UK team also includes Dr Andrew Mayers (Principal Academic at Bournemouth University and perinatal mental health campaigner and educator) and Dr Jane Hanley, a highly regarded health visitor, Hon Lecturer at Swansea University, and a Consultant Trainer in perinatal mental health.
In January 2019 NHS England announced that, for the very first time, some fathers would now be screened for their mental health. Since then, some developments have begun to emerge. However, much of that progress was suddenly postponed when the awful impact of Covid-19 started emerging in early 2020. NHS resources in the UK have needed to focus on fighting this pandemic. When the time is right, the campaigns aimed at getting fathers the support they need will be re-ignited.
Covid-19 has affected the lives of everyone in these last few months. At the outbreak of the pandemic, so little was known about the threat posed to the developing foetus (and addition to fears about bringing a child into a very different world). This only added to the deep anxiety experienced by parents-to-be during pregnancy. Some of those stories will be shared for the events this year.
Another concern throughout Covid-19 has been how fathers are included in pregnancy and the birth. One thing research has shown repeatedly is that, when health professionals include fathers at every step of the perinatal period, the entire family benefits: the mother, the fathers, and the infant. Some of that evidence has driven positive changes in clinical practice. Despite that, across many parts of the UK as the pandemic developed, there have been cases where fathers have been excluded from antenatal appointments and the birth itself. Of course, the safety of everyone is paramount (including health professionals). However, if the expectant parents have been exclusively self-isolating and are symptom-free, that risk is very low. This must be weighed alongside the growing evidence for including the father.
I had a chance to interview Dr. Daniel Singly.
I appreciate you reaching out. I’m a long time volunteer and former Board member of PSI, and I’m basically the “dads doc” around here.
Why is the mental health of new father's often overlooked?
In part because the perinatal period is generally considered to be about “maternal” mental health. Also, society generally socializes us not to think about men and boys as needing support.
Why is it so important to make sure that support is there for new fathers too?
Because the dads are going through their own adjustment to parenthood, and 1 in 10 dads get postpartum depression and 2-18% develop an anxiety disorder in the first year postpartum. If their mental health suffers, then so does their family’s.
How can parents balance their needs of supporting each other and receiving support?
By having an open dialogue about their own mental health and communicating regularly and in a balanced way about their relationship and their needs.
How can family members and other resources support both new parents?
First by factoring in the father into the equation and working to see the parents as individuals who make up two necessary elements of a team. Then, checking their own assumptions and listening to the moms and dads about how they can usefully help out in a way that is about the parents.
If you have time, it's worth listening to this podcast that goes more in-depth about fathers' mental health.
You can read more about this work on Dr Mayers’ web page for fathers’ mental health http://www.andrewmayers.info/
Mark’s website can be found at http://www.reachingoutpmh.co.
Dr Mayers (@DrAndyMayers) and Mark (@MarkWilliamsFMH) are very active on Twitter
More information can be found on IFMHD webpage: https://www.postpartum.net/
Social media details: Facebook @dadsMHday Twitter @dadsMHday
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