State trial to help dads suffering from depression, anxiety

Up to 35,000 new dads in NSW, struggling to adjust to life with a baby, will be screened for depression and anxiety in an Australian-first program, The Sunday Telegraph can reveal.

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New dads in NSW, struggling to adjust to life with a baby, will be screened for depression and anxiety in an Australian-first program.

Up to 35,000 men will be targeted by the state government trial, due to start later this year.

It will involve an online mental health check for fathers before and after the birth of their child.

NSW mental health minister Tanya Davies said the new tests would ensure dads no longer “get left behind”.

Mental Health Minister Tanya Davies said screening fathers at risk of depression or anxiety can understand what they are experiencing and get help earlier. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

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“We know that around one in 20 men experience depression during their partner’s pregnancy, and up to one in 10 new fathers experience depression after the birth of their baby,” Ms Davies said.

“Screening new fathers during the antenatal period as well as in early parenthood means fathers at risk of depression or anxiety can understand what they are experiencing so they can get help earlier.

“In NSW, women are already being offered comprehensive screening both antenatally and postnatally, and this new project will ensure that men don’t get left behind.”

Under the pilot screening program, new dads will complete a mental health questionnaire through a new digital app currently being developed.

One in 10 new fathers experience depression after the birth of their baby. Picture: iStock

NSW Health executive director of health and social policy Tish Bruce said research has shown men feel comfortable using apps.

“They can do it anywhere, anytime, any place,” Ms Bruce said.

“What we’re testing is how well it is taken up, how well fathers respond to this and does it link them with the right places that helps them out.

“Those who come up as high risk on the app will link back into our monitoring systems and we will make direct contact with them.”

Four health districts will participate in the trial, which will also include an education campaign to notify dads of the new app and the support available to them.

The UK government recently announced mental health checks for fathers and Ms Bruce said health authorities worldwide had a greater understanding of how to help men.

Eric Herne, who welcomed his third child, said the concept was a “really good idea”. Picture: Richard Dobson

“I think what we know now is how important they are and why they are important and actually supporting men, not just women, is critical to bringing up healthy, robust children,” she said.

“It’s actually a normal part of parenthood for men to experience anxiety and depression, and it’s not a ­failure.”

New dad Eric Herne welcomed his son Harrison at Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick earlier this month with the baby boy born prematurely at 34 weeks.

The father-of-three said putting more focus on the mental health of dads was a “really good idea” and the app was a “smart decision”.

“There’s not many outlets for dads to regurgitate what they go through,” Mr Herne, 29, said.

“They are really like a duck on water.

“On the surface they might look cool, calm and collected but underneath they are struggling to stay afloat.”

Originally published as State trial to help dads suffering from depression, anxiety