Daddy blues – why we need to talk about postnatal depression in men

Men who do not bond with their babies or feel worthless during or after their partner’s pregnancy could have peri- or postnatal depression (PND).

It used to be thought that only women could have the disease, but now doctors believe that new fathers also struggle with depression.

A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 10 percent of men around the world showed signs of depression from the first trimester of their wife’s pregnancy to six months after giving birth.

In the three to six months after the birth, the number rose to 26 percent.

The report evaluated 43 studies involving more than 28,000 fathers worldwide, and the results were published last year.

The attitude when I spoke to people was, “Go ahead, men don’t get postnatal depression”

Barrie Palfry

This number is more than double the rate of depression typically seen in men and higher than the number of women suffering from PND, which is widely between 10 and 20 percent.

Barrie Palfry, 43, suffered from PND after giving birth to his daughter in his twenties. She was his third child.

“I had no problems with my two boys but when she was born I just couldn’t connect with her, Mr Palfry, who is from Manchester in the UK.

“I knew something was wrong but I couldn’t quite tell. I beat myself up but it made no difference.

“I could feel myself going downhill and feel useless, I couldn’t function. I even felt suicidal.”

It took 11 months for the depression to subside, but during that time his illness was never diagnosed.

“I’ve tried talking to people but I’m from a town in the north of England and the attitude when I talked to people was, ‘Go ahead, men don’t get postnatal depression,” said Palfry.

“My partner just told me to stop being soft. All mental illnesses are stigmatized, but especially for men.”

It wasn’t until many years after his illness, when he researched the subject, that he found that his symptoms were exactly the same as those of his father’s PND.

Dr. Ioannis Delipalas, a Swedish psychiatrist who works in Dubai, said this was very typical in the past.

“Often times men are expected to be strong and the provider, and not be depressed or have feelings of inferiority or anything like that,” said Dr. Delipalas, Medical Director of the Thrive Wellbeing Center.

Now the stigma surrounding mental illness has started to dissipate. More men are getting in touch and sharing their feelings, and recent studies have shown a common problem of depression in fathers with young children.

Feel like a “third wheel”

Dr. Ioannis Delipalas, DHA Licensed Consultative Psychiatrist and Medical Director of the Thrive Wellbeing Center, has treated several fathers who struggled with mental health after their babies were born. Pawan Singh / The National

While only 10 percent of men feel depressed during their partner’s first trimester up to six months after their baby is born, more than 86 percent feel depressed at some point during their child’s first five years of life.

Postnatal maternal depression is often caused by hormonal changes. Dr. Delipalas said that the cause of fathers can be the same.

“There are many studies that actually show that we can have hormone fluctuations in men too. For example, testosterone can fall and estrogen and prolactin – which are typical female hormones – can rise. Cortisol, the stress hormone, can also rise,” said Dr. Delipalas.

“There are also social or psychological explanations. For example, the expectation of a baby can put a man under great pressure because he has to do something – so it can intensify and fuel depression.”

Men with a history of mental illness in adolescence or early adulthood are also more likely to have paternal PND.

Relationship stress, such as men feeling neglected or abandoned by their partner because of the baby, can increase feelings of worthlessness.

“Men can feel like a third wheel,” said Dr. Delipalas, who treated several fathers in Dubai.

“I have met a few patients who have borderline postnatal depression, but we have been able to monitor them and with early intervention such as therapy and, in some cases, pharmacological treatments, we have been able to manage them before it becomes full disease.” depressive episode noted, “said Dr. Delipalas.

Papa blues

The symptoms of a father’s postnatal depression are different from normal “daddy blues,” which are feeling down or a little stressed out.

Any father who suffers from long-term, persistent depression, feelings of worthlessness, anger, decreased libido, and a propensity for risky behaviors such as substance abuse could struggle with PND.

In these situations, depending on the severity of the illness, professional help should be sought, either from a psychologist or perhaps a psychiatrist.

Men should be encouraged to raise their voices as just being heard is sometimes very therapeutic, said Dr. Delipalas.

Mr Palfry said he has now learned not to be ashamed of his feelings.

“I had a few problems last year and reached out to so many people. I just poured my heart out to anyone who would listen, even my work colleagues,” he said.

“There are plenty of organizations out there too, like the National Childbirth Trust – a UK parenting charity, or even your local doctor who can give you the help you need.”

In the UAE, most mental health services are provided by private clinics, although the government set up a UAE mental health phone line during the pandemic, which can be reached at 800-HOPE or 800 4673.

Updated: September 30, 2021 at 1:16 p.m.

source https://www.bisayanews.com/2021/10/03/daddy-blues-why-we-need-to-talk-about-postnatal-depression-in-men/