The postpartum period is a significant life transition, and as such can be incredibly challenging. As many as 1 in 5 women experience a mood or anxiety disorder during pregnancy and/or the first year postpartum (Howard et al., 2014). Additionally, the postpartum period affects the whole family, not just the birthing person. Evidence shows that…
Men's Mental Health
Men face many challenges to their mental health in the 21st century. Gender roles have been changing and men are increasingly feeling empowered to stake their own definitions of masculinity, make room for experience of emotions that have in previous generations been stifled, and integrate the focus on emotional wellbeing into a broader definition of health.
Men’s Mental Health: ‘Man Up’ Is Not the Answer
Many men have a complicated relationship with their mental health. Nearly 1 in 10 men experience depression or anxiety (MHA, 2024). Yet a 2022 survey conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) revealed that just 42% of male-identifying respondents were treated for any mental health issue compared to 57% of female-identifying respondents (NIMH,…
How Fathers Can Help Their Postpartum Partner and Themselves
Postpartum depression affects the whole family. The new mom’s distress is often disorienting to her partner – he may sense that she needs support but feel at a loss as to how to offer it. Fathers also frequently report a reduced capacity for providing meaningful help due to their own struggles in the early postpartum…
