New dads should consider depression screening

New dads should consider depression screening


It’s not just mothers who should be screened for postpartum depression. New dads are also at risk and should also be checked.

That’s the upshot of a recent study by researchers at the University of Illinois-Chicago. After interviewing and screening new fathers, 30% of them were found to have symptoms of postpartum depression. While that figure might seem very intuitive, the researchers said it underscores the importance of self-care for new dads.

New fathers can be heavily stressed, often trying to juggle work, parental and marital responsibilities. And, the researchers noted, men are often not doing well but no one is asking them about it.

The study arose from earlier research looking at how lower-income women of color didn’t prioritize their own health care after having a child. While studying that dynamic, the researchers began chatting with new fathers to see how they were doing. In some cases, the answers were troubling.

Sometimes, the researchers noted, even reaching out to new dads isn’t as easy as it is for depressed moms. Believing that well-baby visits aren’t the only place to reach dads, the researchers also started talking to fathers-to-be during obstetrician visits.

Screening new dads could also have a spinoff effect: Talking to new dads about their mental health is important because it can also impact their partner’s health. In fact, the researchers noted, a woman is more likely to get postpartum depression if she has a depressed partner. Meanwhile, other studies have pegged the depression rate of new fathers at 8% to 13%.

So, new dads, take note: Staying mentally healthy can help you AND your whole family.

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