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SMS4dads hosted a breakfast at Melbourne Zoo on Thursday 4 May for Clinicians, Health Workers, parents with lived experience and others interested in perinatal services for dads and dads-to-be.
The event sent a message – loud and clear – about the valuable role dads play in the outcomes of their baby and partner and the impact dads have in the early stages of parenthood.
The launch was a tremendous success and we are delighted with the response and overwhelmingly positive feedback harnessed from clinicians, parents and SMS4dads partners and collaborators.
Thank you to everyone who joined us as we “Drummed it up for dads.”
NICU MESSAGES
For dads whose baby arrives early or has medical issues
GRIEF MESSAGES
For fathers who experience the loss of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or other medical complications
MENTAL HEALTH MESSAGES
For fathers whose partners experience perinatal depression and/or anxiety
Fathers who experience these situations face a very difficult time and how they manage these challenges impacts on every member of the family. SMS4dads provides tailor-made content for dads when things don’t go to plan.
We will soon have a video edit available showcasing the launch which will be added to this page along with SMS4dads Facebook and Instagram pages. Stay tuned!
In the meantime, please see below a brief summary of the “Drumming it Up for Dads” event at Melbourne Zoo. You can also download the full suite of professional photos from the event courtesy of Casey Horsfield.
Thank you once again for the important work you are doing and your valuable contribution to the changing landscape of information and support delivered to dads and dads-to-be.
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.