Postnatal depression is a type of depression that many parents experience after having a baby.
Prof Viren Swami, a university lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge is speaking out about the importance for all new dads to be checked for history of mental illnesses after suffering postnatal depression himself.
Most people assume that postnatal depression only affects mothers but there is a huge amount of research and case studies that prove this is clearly not true. Around 1 in 10 men experience paternal postpartum depression (PPD) after the birth of a child. This statistic shows just how men are affected from postnatal depression and need to assessed or ensure they visit the doctor for support if they experience such symptoms.
San Diego-based psychologist David Singley PhD, who has treated roughly 40 men with postpartum depression says that while women tend to turn their sadness and fear inward, men are more likely to express depression through anger, aggressiveness, irritability and anxiety.
Treatments for postnatal depression include self- help this may involve talking to your family and friends about your feelings, making time for yourself to do things you enjoy, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep and eating a healthy diet. Another effective treatment is psychological therapy such as a cognitive behavioural therapist which is a talking therapy that helps to manage your problems by altering the way you think and behave. Alternatively, another treatment includes antidepressants which are prescribed by your doctor if your depression is more severe or if other treatments are not so effective.
