Father’s Day is celebrated once a year on the third Sunday of June, a day celebrated by fathers and grandfathers. However, this is not the case for many fathers. Father’s Day can affect male’s mental health for many reasons.
On Father’s Day it’s important to remember men who:
- Are dealing with the miscarriage, stillbirth or death of a child
- Difficulties becoming a father
- Dealing with becoming a blended family and working out their place in the new family
- Those who are struggling to adjust to the new responsibilities of fatherhood
- Men who suffer as a result of having had a difficult childhood
- Are battling with mental ill health – this may be their own or their partner’s
- No longer have their own dads in their lives
- No longer have their children in their lives for whatever reason
Fathers Network Scotland’s 2019 survey revealed that 25% of the dads surveyed stated that they couldn’t cope and did not consider themselves to be a good dad. 58% believed that their mental health had suffered following the birth of their latest child, and 62% felt that their mental health got in the way of their ability to form a good connection with their children. *
Other factors to consider
Father’s Day can also be a struggle for new Dads:
- Adjusting to their new roles and responsibilities, with difficulties caused by coping with their baby’s crying, an increased workload in the home and/or their own lack of sleep.
- Supporting baby’s mum with post-natal depression; as well as possibly suffering with this themselves.
- Experiencing anxiety, depression, OCD and sometimes even PTSD, perhaps as a result of witnessing – helplessly – a traumatic pregnancy and/or birth experience for their partner.
It is important to seek help if any of the issues raised affect you or somebody in your life. But this can be particularly hard for men due to the stigma surrounding mental health. Research by the University of Surrey indicated that men find it hard communicate to others and/or seek help as they feared being judged a failure or were worried about not upholding the traditional masculine, provider role. This can lead to a number of mental health issues including depression and anxiety. Father’s Mental Health Day aims to raise awareness of these issues, and break the stigma surrounding male’s mental health.
At The Eaves, we have counsellors, psychotherapists and psychologists who can help with depression, anxiety and many other mental health problems. If you are looking for someone to speak to, please contact the referrals team on 01483 917000 who would be happy to help source the right therapist for you.
References:
https://www.fathersnetwork.org.uk/mental_health_support_for_new_dads_is_crucial *