Depressed Fathers

30 May 2011 - It is a sad story, but a man in the UK has been acquitted of murdering his six-month-old daughter, after saying he had had post-natal depression. The case of Mark Bruton-Young has put the issue of men who struggle to cope with becoming fathers in the headlines. One out of every seven new mothers has post-natal depression - but, according to the Fatherhood Institute, one out of every 10 fathers are depressed both before and after their baby is born. The peak time for fathers' depression is thought to be between three and six months after the birth. Like women, they can struggle with the huge life changes a baby brings, says Fatherhood Institute research head Adrienne Burgess. "Hormones, lack of sleep, increased responsibility and general life stresses can apply to men just as much to women," she said.  "And if their partner is depressed, then men are more likely to be too." Men and women who have pre-existing mental health problems are more at risk of developing depression after the birth of a child. But a father's depression can begin during pregnancy, when relationships are already changing. Fathers can feel left out while their partner is the focus of increased attention. Association for Post-natal Illness counsellor Liz Wise says: "Women can feel they do things best, like changing a nappy or feeding. But they don't always think about how it could undermine a man's confidence."