A new study has revealed that men are just as likely to suffer the baby blues as women.

Figures show that one in ten mums suffer with postnatal depression and this latest research has discovered the ratio is the same for fathers before or after the birth of a child.

The American study observed that symptoms displayed by fathers are not hormonal as they are with women but more a response to the pressures of becoming a dad such as paternal responsibility, altered relationship with the partner and stretched income.

Mental health experts also added lack of sleep and more domestic chores as probable factors in men becoming depressed.

The research team from the Eastern Virginia Medical School reviewed 43 previous studies involving 28,000 participants. Overall rates of depression for fathers were 10.4 per cent which is double that of the estimated 4.8 per cent for all men within a one year period.

Nearly 8 per cent were affected during the 12 weeks after childbirth and parents were more likely to feel down if their partner was too.

Postnatal depression in women is commonly experienced directly after childbirth but it can occur many months later.

Health visitors and healthcare professionals commonly use the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression score as a screening method to determine depression in women after giving birth (the postnatal period). You can take the test here

If you’d like to learn more about postnatal depression we recommend the following article and video:

Coping with postnatal depression
Pregnancy (post natal depression)

Find a local practitioner