Postnatal depression scheme for new fathers piloted

A new pilot scheme will be among the first to offer postnatal counselling for men.

Under the ‘Fathers Matter’ scheme, to be set up in Basildon Essex by the South Essex Partnership NHS Trust, fathers will be provided access to a service formerly only available to women.

Due to commence in October the scheme will provide advice leaflets, trained volunteers offering a confidential advice to fathers whose partners have recently given birth, and access to regular meetings run by mental health charity Mind.

A spokesperson for the trust said that fathers were not receiving the help and support that they sometimes needed at what was a difficult and stressful time for new fathers.

The pilot scheme will provide psychological support and counselling and it is hoped that if successful the scheme will lead to a national network of counselling specifically for male postpartum depression.

In women three main degrees of post-natal depression are recognised and it is acknowledged to affect two out of three women. The most common form is ‘baby blues’ characterised by symptoms including sadness, tearfulness and mild anxiety. More serious, but less common is postpartum depression – a major depressive episode that may last for several weeks or longer. The third and extremely rare syndrome is postpartum psychosis typified by delusions and hallucinations and usually requires hospitalisation of the patient.

Although experts disagree whether the syndrome is present in men, but those who claim that it does occur say that it may be more prevalent in stepfathers and it may be linked with other specific lifestyle factors.

(SP)