Paternal Depression

Women commonly experience postnatal depression or the baby blues right after giving birth. Do you know that men can have depression as well? The focus has always been on women as they are more willing to seek help whereas men tend to keep quiet about their problems.

The father’s role is as important as the mothers’ and the children will be affected if either parent has mental health problems. Fathers should be aware that studies have shown children whose fathers have this problem are likely to have behavioral disorders or psychiatric problems as well. It is true that mothers are the main child giver especially when the children are very young. However, the father’s role is equally important and has a deep influence on the child’s development. Men are getting more involved in their children’s upbringing and playing the nurturing role equally with the women. In some cases, it is the father who stays home and the mother goes out to work.

photo credit: Just Taken Pics

Fatherhood

Studies show that the age range of 18 to 35 years is the peak age for men to be affected by psychiatric disorders. This is the normal age range for men to become a father. The advice to men is to seek help when they face a problem in order to be able to play their parenting role more effectively.

If a father turns to the bottle or alcoholism for relief, then he is risking even more. Studies have shown links between alcoholism and conduct disorders problem in children where they behave destructively and aggressively and also abuse substance. In addition, paternal alcoholism has been associated with a higher risk of low self-esteem, mood disorders, depressive symptoms, poor performance in school and social problems.

Parents who have bipolar disorders may produce adolescents who are ten times more likely to develop bipolar disorder compared to normal adolescents with healthy parents. Hence, paternal depression and other problems do exist and fathers are advice to seek treatment instead of keeping quiet if they want to ensure their family’s wellbeing.

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Tagged as: alcoholism, behavioral disorders, bipolar disorders, fatherhood, mental health problems, paternal depression, psychiatric disorders