My Blog

As it is Father’s Day on Sunday here in the UK, I would love to highlight just how important fathers are – and to share with you some of the amazing work around International Fathers Mental Health Day.

I love and adore my Dad!

He has always been such a support in my life in every way – even if I haven’t always made the best decisions. I know my brother and sister feel the same.

I am blessed to be able to celebrate this Father’s Day with him and the rest of my family.

Yet for some, the journey of fatherhood is not smooth and can have unexpected challenges. My friend and colleague, Mark Williams, is a good example of this.

He had longed to be a father and when his lovely wife, Michelle, gave birth to their son, Ethan, the months that followed were very tough. Michelle suffered with severe postnatal depression. Mark supported her and then had to deal with his own depression, suicidal thoughts and PTSD (as a result of witnessing the traumatic birth). He recognised that there was so little support and recognition for new fathers within the perinatal period, and in the years since his recovery, he has worked tirelessly to change this.

His book, Daddy Blues, is an excellent insight into how a confident, successful and outgoing salesman, can become a shadow of his former self – and back to recovery.

One of his many achievements has been to inspire and create ‘International Fathers’ Mental Health Day’, along with others such as Dr. Andy Mayers. This is now supported and recognised across the globe.

For example,

• Postpartum Support International has referenced it and provided links to more resources
• Time to Change list it in their calendar
• Maternal Mental Health Alliance feature it
• Facebook page
• In Australia – Centre for Perinatal Psychology

It would be great to see more media articles, such as this one, in the UK press.

This Monday, Mark will be at the ‘Talking Dads’ event to be in held in Blackpool, ‘bringing together a national audience of fellow practitioners, academics and volunteers to discuss the importance of Dads in early years’. The line-up looks great – book here

(I would have loved to have attended. I am going to be in London speaking at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists World Congress, about my journey of perinatal mental illness.)

It has been great to see some of the new research and real life stories emerging about the impact of new fatherhood on mental health, and as a result, a greater awareness of it being part of the NHS care for new families.

For example:

• Liverpool Echo stories on the impact of men after miscarriage
• Thousands of new fathers are to be offered screening and treatment for mental health problems on the NHS. Help for anxious and depressed fathers will be part of the 10-year plan for the health service, which must decide how to spend the £20bn extra promised by Theresa May by 2022.  Times report
• Tips for Dads to bond with their babies 
• A growing number of men are losing close friends within the first year of having a child, according to a new survey.
• “I always felt like an outsider” Man opens up on battling postnatal depression after becoming first time dad

Please do take a few moments to consider the impact of new fatherhood on men for either yourself, or someone you know.

• What information can you share?
• Who do you know in the media who can highlight the issues?
• Please share and follow the links for #DadsMHDay

I know that I will also be appreciating and valuing my own Dad.

Elaine 🙂