Signal About one in ten new fathers experiences depression, with symptoms rising for five years

Summary

The Men's Wellbeing Initiative reports that roughly one in ten new fathers experiences depression. It adds that depressive symptoms among men rise significantly during the first five years after becoming a father. These figures make the period after birth a measurable risk window for men, not only for mothers. The Initiative uses them to support its case that fatherhood should be treated as a men's health event with dedicated screening and care. It also cites evidence that distress in fathers is linked to poorer outcomes in child development. Research from an Australian cohort suggests that wellbeing before conception predicts fewer depressive symptoms after birth, pointing to earlier screening.