The following is excerpted from an online article posted by HealthDay
Men have a 30% increased risk of depression and stress disorders by the end of their first year of fatherhood, researchers reported March 23 in JAMA Network Open.
This follows a mental health boost among men during pregnancy and the first few months following birth, researchers found.
“The delayed increase in depression was unexpected and underscores the need to pay attention to warning signs of mental ill-health in fathers long after the birth of their child,” senior researcher Dr. Donghao Lu said in a news release.
Results showed that men were more than five times less likely to be diagnosed with any psychiatric disorder during their partner’s pregnancy and after their child’s birth.
However, diagnosis rates returned to normal levels within a few months of delivery, and then increased by 30% for problems like depression and anxiety as their baby’s first birthday approached.
“You can’t support other people if you’re not feeling supported yourself or if you’re not well,” she said. “I would advise paying attention to any kind of mental health concerns or symptoms that are coming up; I think that is really important.”
Source: HealthDay
https://www.healthday.com/health-news/mental-health/new-fathers-face-mental-health-challenges-study-finds