Each week, families welcome new babies with joy, hope, and often quiet struggle. In the UK, research shows that around one in ten new fathers experience serious mental health issues such as anxiety or depression during the perinatal period. Unlike mothers, however, fathers rarely receive screening or support through the health system. As awareness grows among campaigners and professionals, the question is simple: when will fathers be fully included?

---

---

What’s Happening Now

Reports show that men are expected to support mothers but are rarely asked how they are coping themselves. While perinatal mental health services for mothers have developed, there is still no dedicated system for fathers. The outcomes ripple through the whole family when dads are left unsupported.

Organisations like Andy’s Man Club have been expanding across the UK, creating peer spaces for men to talk openly about mental health. These groups are vital, but they cannot replace systemic support within the NHS.

---

Why This Matters

Paternal Mental Health Is Common and Serious

Studies suggest that 5–10% of new dads experience depression and 5–15% experience anxiety after birth. The rates rise when a mother is also struggling. These problems can lead to bonding difficulties with infants, relationship strain, and in some cases higher risk of suicide.

No Routine Screening or Care Pathways for Dads

Maternal mental health is routinely screened through midwives and health visitors. Fathers have no equivalent system. When they struggle, there is often no clear pathway for help.

Grassroots Support Is Growing but Limited

Groups like Andy’s Man Club have provided a lifeline for many men. Yet they are volunteer-driven, localised, and cannot replace clinical care or national policy.

---

What Needs to Change

Routine Screening for Fathers

Fathers should be included in perinatal checklists as standard. Screening at maternity clinics or during health visitor appointments would allow problems to be spotted early.

NHS and GP Pathways Must Include Dads

Healthcare professionals need training to recognise paternal struggles and to offer clear referral routes to counselling, therapy, or peer support.

Expand Peer Support Infrastructure

Charities and community groups should receive support to increase reach. NHS partnerships with organisations like Andy’s Man Club could create consistency and access.

Build Cultural Acceptance

Stigma still stops men admitting vulnerability. Normalising father-focused support is as important as building policy change.

---

Opening the Debate

• Should perinatal mental health screening include both parents as standard?
• Can peer support alone address the gap, or is systemic reform essential?
• Who should lead the change—GPs, midwives, or policymakers?
• How can stigma be reduced so fathers feel safe asking for help?

---

What People Can Do

• Dads and partners: Speak openly with your GP or connect with peer groups like Andy’s Man Club.
• Healthcare providers: Include fathers in conversations, ask direct questions, and provide resources.
• Policymakers: Budget specifically for paternal mental health within perinatal initiatives.
• Communities: Support awareness events such as International Father’s Mental Health Day.

---

Closing Thought

Becoming a father is both joyful and overwhelming. Yet while mothers are now better supported, dads remain an afterthought in the system. Closing the mental health gap is not just about fairness. It is about protecting whole families, strengthening relationships, and building a healthier future for parents and children alike.