Paternal postpartum depression: emotional and social availability for women in the early postnatal period

Midwives are in an optimum position to address the mental health of new fathers and paternal perinatal mental health is a recognised concern. However, the mechanisms that exist to recognise, escalate and intervene appropriately are limited in scope and effectiveness. Screening tools may have the potential to identify fathers at risk of postpartum depression, but they are limited in sensitivity and specificity, meaning that when there may be deterioration in a partner's mental health, diagnosis may not follow. This has implications for the health and wellbeing of the family, especially if male partners are relied upon as the mainstay of emotional and social support for women in the early postnatal period. To actualise strategies to address these issues, changes in policy, education and practice are required. Recommendations for research, education and patient engagement are made to assure early intervention and to ensure that emotional and social support in the family is optimised.