Give men equal emotional support around pregnancy to stop them feeling left out, experts urge By KATE PICKLES HEALTH EDITOR FOR THE DAILY MAIL Published: 23:30 GMT, 12 November 2024 | Updated: 00:46 GMT, 13 November 2024 e-mail 1 View comments Men should be given as much emotional support as women in the run up to parenthood, a study suggests. More focus should be put on dads-to-be during antenatal and other clinical appointments to stop them feeling 'left out', a review of evidence found. Many new fathers reported being 'physically and emotionally tested to breaking point', experiencing bouts of exhaustion and postnatal depression symptoms.
But they felt unable to reach out for help on the grounds that they were not supposed to be the ones finding new parenthood difficult. The academics called for clinical guidelines to be developed to give mental health support in the run up to - and shortly after - becoming fathers. This would help them cope with the physical, psychological, and social changes in their lives during transition to fatherhood, they suggest.
Researchers drew on findings from surveys, interviews and focus groups from the UK, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, involving more than 1,000 men. Some had a positive experience with no mental health repercussions, but most faced challenges, they found, which had a detrimental impact on their overall mental health and wellbeing. Experts have called for clinical guidelines to be developed to give mental health support for.