Medically reviewed by
A/Prof Jacqui MacDonald, School of Psychology, Deakin University
What is perinatal depression?
Perinatal depression is when symptoms of depression (e.g. lack of interest or enjoyment in things, feeling irritable or angry, feeling bad about yourself) occur during pregnancy, around the time of childbirth or up to one year after the birth of a child. Perinatal depression can directly affect mothers and/or fathers.
You don’t need to be the parent who carries the baby to have perinatal depression.
How common is perinatal depression and anxiety in dads?
Perinatal depression in fathers is a lot more common than most people realise. Perinatal depression affects at least one in 10 fathers, and is most likely to occur around three to six months after the birth of their child.
What are the risk factors for perinatal depression in dads?
Perinatal depression affects between a quarter to half of fathers whose partners have perinatal depression, showing a close relationship between maternal (of the mother) and paternal (of the father) mental health.
What causes perinatal depression?
Like other forms of depression, the causes of perinatal depression are different for different people. Perinatal depression probably results from a combination of biological factors (e.g. genetics, hormone levels), life experience, and circumstances related to pregnancy, childbirth, the baby’s health and behaviour, and other life events occurring during this time.
What are the symptoms of perinatal depression?
Depression is more than feeling sad, and the symptoms of depression in men can be different from the symptoms of women.
An unhappy mood, feeling extremely tired and being less active are signs of perinatal depression in men and women.
Perinatal depression in fathers can lead to increased alcohol consumption, smoking and use of other substances, changes in eating and impulsive behaviour.
How is perinatal depression diagnosed?
Perinatal depression in mothers is better understood than it is in fathers, partly because mothers have traditionally attended child health care appointments more than fathers. These child health appointments provide opportunities for health professionals to screen new parents for things like perinatal depression, and if you’re not the parent who attends you miss out on this screening.
There are things that health professionals check for, that enable them to specifically diagnose perinatal depression in mothers. Perinatal depression in fathers does not have specific diagnostic criteria. However, a qualified health professional, like your general practitioner or a psychologist, can diagnose perinatal depression in fathers based on answers to straightforward questions.
How is perinatal depression treated?
Perinatal depression is treated the same way as other types of depression, which may include exercise, talking therapy provided by qualified health professionals, or medication.
Dads’ groups that help fathers build their parenting skills and confidence, and deal with the stress of parenting can be helpful for fathers with perinatal depression.
What does perinatal depression mean for my health?
Perinatal depression is associated with headaches, sleep disturbance and other health consequences of depression in men. Mental health problems later in life are more common in men who experienced perinatal depression than those who don’t.
Perinatal depression doesn’t just affect the father. It has negative effects on the quality of their relationship with their partner, and on the health of the mother, child and family.
What should I do about perinatal depression?
If you have any concerns about how you’re dealing with becoming a father, you should talk to your doctor or one of the other healthcare professionals you visit during this time.
You may be concerned that this is a time to focus on your partner and child, but it is important to remember that gaining support for your mental health will benefit your family.
