Fathers hit by baby blues too – Herald
In the NZ Herald today:
Fathers hit by baby blues, too.
New figures from the Australian Antenatal and Postnatal Depression Association show that between 10 and 33 percent of new fathers suffer from Post-Natal depression.
Keegan Brendon Madeline Smith photo: Doug Sherring NZHerald 27th March 2011
Auckland Father and Child worker Brendon Smith was interviewed (below). Although the article linked to the Plunket website offering access to father’s groups, sadly they neglected to link to fatherandchild.org.nz, or mention the weekly support meeting in Onehunga.
Year long struggle
As a new father, Brendon Smith sank into depression while trying to cope with the needs of his partner and two babies.
He noticed the changes 10 years ago when his children were aged 6 months and 18 months, while watching their mother go through similar symptoms.
“Even though I’d heard the term postnatal depression, I didn’t really understand it,” he says. “I didn’t like going to work and I didn’t want to see my mates.”
The symptoms continued for about a year after Smith, who was 37, left his role in IT sales to become a stay-at-home dad. Smith has become a support worker for Father and Child, a trust set up by fathers for fathers.
