Let’s Talk About Paternal Depression

When postpartum depression is discussed, it is more often than not geared towards women. This is because this is where the focus has been for mental health after babies are born. After all, it is women’s hormones that are affected during pregnancy. And it is those same hormones depleting quickly that contribute to depression after babies are born. As such, it makes sense for the focus of doctors’ concern to be on new mothers versus new fathers. Or so it was thought for many years in the medical community. But it is now coming to light that men suffer from depression after babies are born as well. And because of this, paternal depression needs to be discussed.

Paternal depression is a much less talked about medical condition given that less is known about it. This lack of information partially comes from men not realizing what they are suffering from. And when this happens, paternal depression goes unreported. This means that of the 10 percent of men who are known to get paternal depression yearly, according to Michigan.gov, there are more who suffer in silence. Something that is not beneficial for men or their young families. Making mental health screening for men postpartum so very important.

RELATED: 10 Myths About Dads’ Postnatal Depression Debunked

Here is what there is to know about paternal depression.

What Is Paternal Depression?

When men show signs of depression after their babies are born, they may be suffering from paternal depression, according to News-Medical.net. Symptoms that can occur shortly after babies are born and up to one year after.

It does not matter if fathers are first-time or have had multiple babies, per the publication. They are still susceptible to paternal depression. Meaning that paternal depression can strike after one child or after them all. No man is immune to paternal depression, but some are able to escape it happening to them.

Risk Factors Of Paternal Depression

While all men can be afflicted with paternal depression, there are some fathers who are more at risk than others.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the factors that put men at higher risk for developing paternal depression include:

• Problems with developing a bond with the baby
• Not having good male role models growing up
• Very little to no support from friends or family
• Changes to the relationship with a partner after babies are born
• Feelings of jealousy with how mother bonds with baby
• Mother is suffering from postpartum depression
• Stress at work
• Financial stress
• Lower testosterone levels than normal

If new dads have any of these issues they are dealing with, they are at higher risk for developing paternal depression. And if this is something that is recognized sooner rather than later, help can be received early enough so that depression does not get worse.

Signs Of Paternal Depression

It can be hard to recognize the signs of paternal depression given that things such as sleep deprivation and low energy levels that come with the early stages of parenthood can make the mental state of fathers less than ideal. But there is a difference between being in a funk or tired and paternal depression.

According to PregnancyBirth&Baby, signs of paternal depression include:

• Tiredness
• Headaches
• Body pain
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Anger
• Loss of libido
• Appetite changes
• Constantly feeling overwhelmed
• Becoming a large risk-taker
• Lack of being able to sleep
• Feeling disconnected from partners
• Working more to stay away from family
• Using drugs and alcohol to cope

If these signs are present, then men need to speak with their doctors to discover if they are indeed suffering from paternal depression and what they can do to alleviate the uncomfortable feelings being felt.

Screening For Paternal Depression

Because paternal depression has become an important topic of conversation over the past decade or so, there has been a scale created to screen new fathers specifically for paternal depression. That scale is the Yates Paternal Depression Screening Tool.

According to The Institute of Family & Community Impact, the Yates Paternal Depression Screening Tool was developed after the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale, which determines if women are suffering from postpartum depression. But because signs of depression are different in mothers than they are in fathers, per the publication, the Yates scale was developed to reflect same.

The areas that men are tested for to determine if they are suffering from paternal depression, according to The Institute of Family & Community Impact include:

• Mood/Loss of Interest and Motivation
• Aggression/Irritability
• Self-Concept/Feelings of Worth
• Social System Deficits
• Alcohol/Drug Use

Depending on where men score determines whether they suffer from paternal depression. The key is to get more fathers screened after their babies are born. Something that not all medical facilities are designed to be able to do at this time.

Help For Paternal Depression

Fortunately, there is help available for men who are suffering from paternal depression. And the help is something that is very similar to what mothers use to help with their postpartum depression.

According to NCT, the treatment for men suffering from paternal depression is still in the early phases. Because of this, things like group or one-on-one therapy and medications are what is recommended.

Whether this will prove to be the best form of treatment for men will become clearer as paternal depression becomes more mainstream. Until then, diagnosing the condition is most important and then developing the best treatment plan for each individual is what will help men to overcome paternal depression and be the fathers they want to be.

Source: Michigan.gov, News-Medical.net, American Academy of Pediatrics, PregnancyBirth&Baby, The Institute of Family & Community Impact, NCT