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However, they can face barriers. Healthcare services are focused on mothers and babies. Fathers often feel excluded, and many may struggle with their mental health or with coping with traumatic pregnancy or birth events. Historically, they are not asked about their mental health or experiences of birth by any healthcare professionals over the transition to fatherhood. When fathers attend healthcare appointments with their partners and/or infants, professionals have a unique opportunity to engage them, ask about their health and wellbeing, and provide information and options for support. In Australia, we are lucky to have a growing number of father-specific programs, peer support options and mental health support resources: click here for just a few.
Fathers also need social connection to support their positive mental health and fathering role. Australian research shows that when dads maintain good social connections with their friends, they also report greater relationship satisfaction with their partners. Fathers can benefit from speaking with other men with similar experiences. There are many great ways that men can make connections. These may be online, via video chat, SMS or podcasts, or in-person at workplaces, community groups or through activities and exercise. Improving fathers’ social connection provides benefits for mothers and infants too.
FROM A MUM WITH SEVERE DEPRESSION
“I had severe antenatal depression. I was hospitalised. It was very severe, suicidal ideation, the works. It was helpful knowing that my hubbie was getting really good information that made him feel not so alone.
He found the SMS format (of SMS4dads) was great – it was short and concise and not written in academic language and the links with more information were really useful. He would circle them back to me and he would say, ‘I read this today in SMS4dads … ‘lots of other mums, one in five mums have perinatal depression.’
It didn’t make me 100% better because nothing was working – but I just felt glad that I didn’t have to explain to my partner what was happening to me.
He got that extra support – he was seeing a psychologist and coming to my weekly psychiatry appointments, and we both subscribed to SMS4dads (I decided to join SMS4dads myself!) It was after the birth, we were lying in bed and he was reading them out to me, and I thought, ‘That’s great phrasing.’ So, I joined too and I’m still getting them – they are really reputable links, it’s not just an Instagram post. It’s awesome.”
Research says that 50% of people are still reluctant to seek help and support, but that figure used to be drastically higher. In a few years that figure will hopefully and could be drastically lower. The earlier people seek support, the greater their outcomes are. We’ve definitely seen a lot of improvement in that – but we have a long way to go… especially in the area of men and dads getting support both professionally and through their peers.”
Dr Rickie Elliot, Clinical Psychologist
FULL INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE HERE
Richard’s research revealed possible long-term negative impacts on the children of dads with mental health issues. Fathers’ depressive symptoms in the first year after the birth predicted behaviour problems in their children years later.
“If dads’ mental health has such a dramatic impact then we need to be screening dads for depression, not just mums,” Richard explains.
In response to these limitations, Richard and his team have designed a smart-phone based program that allows mobile connection for new and expectant dads.
Participants receive texts containing information and links, and self-report their mood. If the mood tracker identifies dads as needing extra support, they will be offered a phone call from a counsellor trained in this area.
Following the success of the pilot of the SMS4dads program, Funding was received to enable a National roll-out.
“When dad’s miss antenatal classes or activities, they also miss out on contact and links to other people. They may never get the chance to say to anyone, look I’m really stressed,” he points out.
“SMS4dads is a way of bringing dads into the health system and keeping them linked in with services and support,” explains Richard.
Richard credits a varied career, a talented and innovative team, and much life experience for affording him the insight needed to address the challenges related to actively engaging dads.
After completing his masters in Medical Science, studying epidemiology, Richard earned his PhD focusing on fathers and attachment.
“Fathers are invisible in many places, and that is endemic. Not because people dislike fathers, but because the system is set up to be focused on mothers.”
Some services and organisations are aware of the need to engage dads, but have been unsuccessful in their attempts.
“When people are challenged about this, they generally want dads involved,” Richard affirms.
“Often, however, they just don’t know how to do it.”
Richard works with health professionals on issues related to fathers, and has delivered many antenatal programs for expectant dads.
He credits his own family with giving him an understanding of the role of fathers needed to make his work relevant.
“I have three daughters and two stepdaughters,”
“My kids would say they taught me just about everything I know and they’d be right. They’ve taught me a lot, and still do.”
Richard’s research revealed possible long-term negative impacts on the children of dads with mental health issues. Fathers’ depressive symptoms in the first year after the birth predicted behaviour problems in their children years later.
“If dads’ mental health has such a dramatic impact then we need to be screening dads for depression, not just mums,” Richard explains.
In response to these limitations, Richard and his team have designed a smart-phone based program that allows mobile connection for new and expectant dads.
Participants receive texts containing information and links, and self-report their mood. If the mood tracker identifies dads as needing extra support, they will be offered a phone call from a counsellor trained in this area.
Following the success of the pilot of the SMS4dads program, Funding was received to enable a National roll-out.
“When dad’s miss antenatal classes or activities, they also miss out on contact and links to other people. They may never get the chance to say to anyone, look I’m really stressed,” he points out.
“SMS4dads is a way of bringing dads into the health system and keeping them linked in with services and support,” explains Richard.
