Right now, one in seven new fathers experiences high levels of psychological distress and as many as one in ten experience depression or anxiety. Often distressed fathers remain unidentified and unsupported due to both a reluctance to seek help for themselves and low levels of community understanding that the transition to parenthood is a difficult period for fathers, as well as mothers.

The project is hoping to both increase understanding of stress and distress in new fathers and encourage new fathers to take action to manage their mental health.

This work is being informed by research commissioned by beyondblue into men’s experiences of psychological distress in the perinatal period.

Informed by the findings of the Healthy Dads research, three projects are underway to provide men with the knowledge, tools and support to stay resilient during the transition to fatherhood.

https://www.medicalert.org.au/news-and-resources/becoming-a-healthy-dad