It's common for dads to experience some challenges adjusting to parenthood - whether it's your first child or subsequent children. It can also feel hard to know how you can best help and support your partner.
Dads can experience anxiety and depression symptoms during pregnancy and after their baby is born too.
Men can find it more difficult to reach out for help and support due to feelings of shame, cultural stigma, and other barriers to receiving mental health support.
Help’s available if you’re having a hard time.
Helpful Information
Perinatal anxiety and depression in dads: Signs and symptoms
Find support
Seeking support
You might like to try:
- Speaking with your partner and sharing how you are feeling
- Talk to a trusted friend or family member, especially if that person has experienced mental health issues
- Your GP is an excellent starting point, and they can refer you to a psychologist or counsellor who has experience in supporting new dads
- If you are having suicidal thoughts or are feeling distressed or disoriented it’s important to get help immediately. Call the PANDA Helpline (Monday to Friday 9am - 7.30pm, Saturday 9am - 4pm AEST) or Lifeline 13 11 14 (24/7)
Your doctor can help you understand what’s happening and discuss the best treatment options for you.
These might include:
- Counselling
- Self-care strategies, like the SMS4Dads program
- Medication
- Peer supports for dads (e.g. virtual courses and peer groups)
- Information and access to perinatal mental health resources specially designed to support dads.
It’s also important for your doctor to rule out the possibility of any other physical conditions that may contribute to feelings of depression, anxiety, low energy or lack of motivation. Worrying thoughts and feelings can resolve if identified and treated.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to mental health recovery.
This means:
- Everyone responds to treatment differently.
- What works well for another guy may not be the best care plan for you.
- Your recovery plan will be personalised and adapted to meet your individual needs as a person and a new dad.
Your voice matters. You’re the expert on your own life, and your care team will consult you about what might work best for you.
Helpline
PANDA’s Helpline
If you’re not ready to speak to your partner, family, or friends, PANDA’s Helpline can help. Almost 1 in 10 callers to our Helpline are men. We have male telephone counsellors available if you’d prefer to speak to another bloke about what’s going on.
If you are in any doubt, call the PANDA National Helpline. We’ll listen, support you, and help you access supports specifically designed for the wellbeing of expecting and new dads.
“TAKING THAT PHONE CALL WAS MY FIRST STEP ON A PATH TOWARDS FEELING BETTER”
PANDA National Helpline
Find someone to talk to, Monday to Saturday.
1300 726 306
Call 000 for police and ambulance if you or someone else are in immediate danger
Talk with friends or family
Consider talking about how you are feeling with someone you trust. This might be a friend or family member. Once you starting talking you might be surprised at how many others have had similar experiences and the support they can provide you.
Talk with your doctor
Talking with your doctor can be an important step to getting the help you need. They should be able to give you non-judgemental support, assessment, diagnosis, and ongoing care and treatment. They can also refer you to specialists such as a counsellor, psychologist or psychiatrist.
Get help now
If you are having suicidal thoughts or are feeling disorientated it’s important to get help immediately. PANDA is not a crisis service, if you need immediate support call Lifeline 13 11 14 (24/7).
Stories
Stories about dads
Articles
Information to support dads
Mental health checklist
How are you going?
Everyone’s experience of pregnancy, birth and parenting is unique and brings different rewards and challenges. Our mental health checklist can help you to see if what you’re experiencing or observing in a loved one could be reason to seek help.
Checklist for
Helpful Information