Author: Kate Ellis-Davies, Kim Dienes, Ann John, Matthew Price
Author title:
Kate Ellis-Davies, The Interdisciplinary Perinatal Mental Health Group; School of Psychology, Swansea University, Wales
Kim Dienes, School of Psychology, Swansea University, Wales
Ann John, National Centre for Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm Research Matthew Price, 1001 Critical Days Foundation
Description: Paternal mental health following the birth of a child is increasingly recognised as a significant public health issue. However, the needs of new fathers remain overlooked in clinical practice, policy and research. The majority of deaths by suicide are in males, with the lifespan risk of suicide peaking during middle age, with increasing numbers of fathers transitioning to fatherhood during this period. Despite the impact paternal suicide may have on children and their families, these potentially preventable deaths are under-recognised due to fathers’ exclusion from perinatal suicide statistics and national guidelines. This article reviews what is known about paternal mental health and suicide in the first 1001 days (pregnancy to two years postpartum) and introduces conceptual frameworks from life transition theory and family systems theory to better understand risk and impact across the family system. We highlight urgent policy, practice and training needs, including systematic recording of fatherhood status in men’s health records and mortality data, national screening for paternal mental health, and training on paternal suicide risk and intervention for healthcare professionals.

---