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Behind The Sessions: International Father's Mental Health Day
The focus of perinatal mental health is often on mothers, but we can’t discount the importance of fathers’ mental health on children, families, and relationships. Dads everywhere are struggling, and they often do so in silence. We need to raise awareness of this aspect of mental health! The Monday after Father’s Day is International Fathers’ Mental Health Day, so I’m discussing this topic and sharing helpful information in today’s episode.
Behind The Sessions: International Father's Mental Health Day Show Highlights:
- The messaging to boys and men from society
- My approach with clients and their partners is to try to reach more fathers.
- A compassionate approach promotes healing.
- M&M episodes focused on fathers and their mental health:
- 345: A New Father’s Experience Through His Wife’s Postpartum Psychosis with Tony Pacitti
- 286: Foundations in Paternal Perinatal Mental Health with Dr. Daniel Singley
- 274: Healing from Paternal Postpartum Depression with Kevin Seldon
- 273: The Emotional Wellness of Fathers with Adam Angel, LCSW
- 242: The Value of Fathers and The Black Voice in Parenthood with Reginald Day
- 195: Paternal Postpartum Depression with David Levine
- 181: Fathers and Perinatal Mental Health with Dr. Sheehan Fisher
- 177: The Loss of a Wife and Mother to PPD with Steven D’Achille
- 23: “He’s Not Talking About It,” A Father’s Journey with Mark Williams
- Frightening statistics about fathers’ mental health
- Stigma prevents men from reporting symptoms and seeking help.
- Risk factors for dads are similar to those of moms. (Dads are up to 50% more likely to experience perinatal mental health issues if their partner experiences them.)
- Dads can feel excluded from caregiving and disconnected from mom and baby.
- Dads should be screened just like moms!
- We can do better to meet the needs of fathers!
- Partners should check in with each other and check on each other’s mental health.
Resources:
Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visit cdph.ca.gov
Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to better support people for whom they provide services.
Visit www.postpartum.net for resources and support!
Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.
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