--- title: A Must-Read on Supporting Expectant and New Dads’ Mental Health description: Explore the vital need to address dads' mental health during the pre and perinatal period, with recommendations for local, state, and national levels. Learn how NFI resources can help support fathers' mental well-being. image: https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/Images/Blog/NFI_Blog_must-read-new-dads-mental-health.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/must-read-supporting-expectant-and-new-dads-mental-health#main) - [![NFI mark](https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI%20mark.svg)FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://www.fatherhood.org/) - [STORE.FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://store.fatherhood.org/) [![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=149&height=82&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=65&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=66&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=89&height=49&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ](https://www.fatherhood.org) - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) Open main navigation Close main navigation - Show submenu for Get Informed Get Informed - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - [Father Stats & Infographics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) - Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Find Your Stage of Father Inclusion](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-inclusion) - [How Father Friendly Is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Fatherhood Data & Statistics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - [How Father Friendly is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Other Free Resources](https://www.fatherhood.org/nfi-free-resources) - [Talk With us to Get Started](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) National Fatherhood Initiative Blog / [Latest Articles](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood) [fatherhood research](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/topic/fatherhood-research) # A Must-Read on Supporting Expectant and New Dads’ Mental Health 2 min read ![Christopher A. Brown](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/chris_circle_icon.png?width=100&height=100&name=chris_circle_icon.png) [** Christopher A. Brown ** ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/author/christopher-a-brown) Chris serves as the President of National Fatherhood Initiative® (NFI), where he is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of NFI's strategic plan and business model, as well as its operations and fundraising efforts. ![NFI_Blog_must-read-new-dads-mental-health](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Blog/NFI_Blog_must-read-new-dads-mental-health.jpg?width=500&height=333&name=NFI_Blog_must-read-new-dads-mental-health.jpg) Image created using *Adobe Firefly 3.* As human service organizations have become more aware of the need to address dads’ mental health, [National Fatherhood Initiative](https://fatherhood.org/)® has created [resources](https://store.fatherhood.org/brochure-three-steps-for-dads-to-care-for-their-mental-health/) and provided [guidance](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/topic/mental-health) that address this underserved need. The guidance includes sharing research on this vital topic. In that vein, I recently ran across a [must-read commentary](https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2023.01459) about considering dads’ mental health as part of efforts to improve perinatal outcomes for moms and babies. The authors point out the lack of this consideration ignores the evidence of the positive impact dads have on maternal and child health when they actively support pregnant and postpartum moms. The authors provide an outstanding review of the evidence of this positive impact. Moreover, they cover the state of research on expectant and new dads’ mental health. This review lays the foundation for the authors’ call for increased attention to the mental health of dads during this critical time. Specifically, that perinatal initiatives and programs at the local, state, and national levels must start supporting dads’ mental health. The authors make the following recommendations for each level: - Local - “Forge multisector partnerships at the city and county levels to promote inclusion of fathers in child and family services.” - “Invest in the necessary training and capacity building to equip professionals within prenatal an early childhood services to facilitate and strengthen fathers’ engagement.” - State - “Establish a state entity tasked with improving outcomes for children and families by supporting fathers in their roles as parents, partners, and addressing paternal perinatal mental health.” - “Include fathers in defining state-level maternal and child health priorities, such as improving perinatal mental health.” - National - “Raise awareness of the prevalence, presentation, consequences, and management of paternal PMAD [perinatal mood and anxiety disorder] among national associations and call for routine mental health screenings for all expectant and new parents, inclusive of no-birthing parents.” - “Establish ongoing, equitable national data collection practices that capture the experiences and behaviors of fathers.” As your organization considers how to address dads’ mental health, I encourage you to learn more about the differences in men’s and women’s healthcare-seeking behavior and its impact on how proactively dads approach their mental healthcare. Our [*Three Steps For Dads To Care For Their Mental Health*](https://store.fatherhood.org/brochure-three-steps-for-dads-to-care-for-their-mental-health/) brochure takes these differences into account. It’s become one of our most sought-after resources. Plus, several other NFI brochures build dads' skills in [co-parenting](https://store.fatherhood.org/brochure-dad-good-co-parent), [conflict resolution](https://store.fatherhood.org/brochure-how-to-resolve-conflict-with-the-mother-of-your-child/), [work-family balance](https://store.fatherhood.org/brochure-12-ways-to-balance-work-family/), and other areas that help dads manage their mental health more effectively. I also encourage you to [download](https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2023.01459) and read the commentary. NFI has the [capacity-building resources](https://store.fatherhood.org/) and [collaborative services](https://www.fatherhood.org/collaborate) to help entities at the local, state, and national levels equip professionals around father engagement and customize their approaches to implementing the authors’ other recommendations. What is your organization doing to proactively address dads’ mental health generally and during the perinatal period specifically? Do you need a customized approach to address any of the authors’ recommendations? If so, [contact us](mailto:evecere@fatherhood.org?subject=NFI's%20Collaborative%20Services) to learn more about how our collaborative services can help. [![How to Mobilize Your City. County, or State Around Responsible Fatherhood](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/135704/1342d23b-1188-4e23-a44a-747ff838507d.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/135704/1342d23b-1188-4e23-a44a-747ff838507d) Date Published: 05/28/2024 Last Updated: 05/28/2024 ## Learn How to Build a Fatherhood Program That Works Download this free guide for a proven 7-step roadmap—from making the case and securing funding for your program, to launching and measuring real results! [Get The Guide Now!](https://www.fatherhood.org/starting-a-fatherhood-program) ![7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png?width=700&height=700&name=7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png) [ Previous ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/three-fatherhood-services-that-provide-massive-gains) [ Next ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/nfi-celebrates-30th-anniversary) ## Related Articles ### [New Bipartisan Bill Aims to Uplift Men in Preparing for Fatherhood “Involved fathers are pillars of strength in our families, embodying resilience, guidance, and unconditional love.” ~U.S. Senator Marco Rubio Image created using DALL•E 3. The ... Read More](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/bipartisan-bill-aims-to-uplift-men-preparing-for-fatherhood) ### [30 Ways to Recruit Dads into Fatherhood Programs Struggling to attract dads to your fatherhood program? Feeling stuck? Doing okay, but want more dads to enroll? Review this checklist to evaluate your promotional tactics and try ... Read More](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/30-ways-to-recruit-dads-into-fatherhood-programs) ### [How to Help Fathers Prioritize Their Health June marks a significant time for raising awareness about men's health, but in the conversation about well-being, there's a crucial voice that often gets overlooked—the voice of ... 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