Understanding and Mitigating the Potential Effects of Postpartum Depression on Fathers and Male Support Persons

Background. During the postpartum period, best practices dictate that medical professionals screen new mothers or birthing persons for anxiety and depression and direct them to the appropriate resources and services they may need. This qualitative study explored the steps being taken to identify depression and anxiety concerns in male support partners during the postpartum period and to understand what resources are being brought to their attention if depression and anxiety are identified. Methods. A convenience sample of male support persons participated in semi-structured, one-on-one interviews either in-person or over Zoom between September and October 2024. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and cleaned for analysis. A deductive-inductive approach was used to develop a codebook and identify themes. Results. Five interviews were completed with male support persons to identify the main areas of concern among their demographic. Four themes were identified, Access, Stigma, Resources, and Community. Conclusions. Interviews provided an understanding of how and what affects male support persons’ mental health during the postpartum period. As research suggests, male support partners who experience mental health concerns may negatively impact the well-being of the mother and child. Investing in mental health services for male support persons during the postpartum period is an important area of public health.