Psychological health experiences and help-seeking barriers: a qualitative study of Chinese new fathers within 12 months postpartum

Paternal mental health around the time of childbirth is often overlooked. We examined Chinese first-time fathers’ experiences and help-seeking within 12 months postpartum. This exploratory qualitative study used purposive sampling at two tertiary hospitals in Hainan to recruit 29 fathers for one-to-one semi-structured interviews. Audio-recordings were transcribed and analysed in NVivo 11 using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis. Most fathers regarded sleep loss, irritability and fatigue as normal and seldom sought professional support. Six themes emerged: (1) emotional burden and role adaptation; (2) help-seeking pathways and self-regulation; (3) sources of psychological stress; (4) masculine norms and stigma; (5) informational and structural barriers to help-seeking; and (6) service preferences and suggestions. Integrating brief father education and screening, clear signposting and explicit confidentiality into routine perinatal care—alongside low-threshold, affordable, father-focused options—may improve uptake. Framed this way, help-seeking is part of competent fathering.