More must be done for men suffering from perinatal depression (PPND), says Dr. Christina Kay, a medical officer from Island Health in Victoria.
While great strides have been made in understanding this major depressive disorder in women, and it has been recognized as a significant health issue, the same cannot be said for men, where the problem is underdiagnosed and under-reported.
"Stoicism, and self-reliance. Being independent and not reaching out to others for help is a really common message that those men receive from a really young age," Dr. Kay said.
It can also be incredibly challenging for men to ask for help while their partner is also going through a battle with PPND, with many men simply pushing those feelings aside or mistaking them for tiredness or other seemingly rational explanations.
"They can explain away their feelings really easily and minimize them, not thinking they are really leading themselves into trouble," Dr. Kay said.
A broken leg cannot be left alone and heal on its own, and mental health concerns like PPND are the same. Letting the problem get worse only causes more pain down the road.
"The ultimate risk with depression is self-harm or suicide," Dr. Kay said.
Alongside any risks to the father, there are also potential negative impacts on their children as PPND can affect parenting behaviours and styles and can ultimately affect the child's well-being.
"Really important development happens even from the very few first moments after birth, and the brain is taking in messages," Dr. Kay said. "The most important message is that their caregiver is attuned to them."
In turn, this potential neglect from PPND can have severe consequences for the emotional development of a child, and that can become a problem later into adulthood.
There is some genetic component and family history of depression can be a sign that a person might develop symptoms later on in life, said Dr. Kay.
PPND affects around 10-12 per cent of the population and non-birthing partners are 24-40 per cent more likely to be affected if it is also affecting their significant other.
"At any point where symptoms for depression are being noticed or life is being disrupted with some of the impacts of depression, like sleep, appetite or diminished interest," Dr Kay said. "The moment those things are noticed, they should be flagged and brought to the attention of the care provider."
Even though PPND can be isolating, help is out there, and people are not alone in this fight. HeadUpGuys.org from UBC has resources, and the Pacific Post-Parturm Support Society has a resource for partners at postpartum.org.
"You don't have to feel this way, and you shouldn't wait for it to pass because the sooner, the better for getting help and getting on with your life and adjusting to your family and enjoying your new baby," Dr. Kay said.
