MENTAL HEALTH OF FATHERS AFTER THE BIRTH OF A CHILD

That this House notes that research has indicated that up to 10 per cent of fathers suffer from symptoms of postnatal depression in the period immediately after the birth of their child, up to 40 per cent from some form of psychological distress before the child is 12 months old, and 21 per cent from a depressive episode by the time the child is 12 years old; further notes that very few services exist across the country designed specifically to help fathers who are suffering from mental health problems; expresses concern about the effect that undiagnosed mental health problems could be having on the wellbeing of parents and children; acknowledges that many improvements have been made in the treatment of women suffering from postnatal depression in recent years; and calls on the Government to make identification and treatment of fathers suffering from symptoms of postnatal depression a national priority.