With one in 10 men thought to experience anxiety or depression in the first six months after the birth of their baby, NHS England has announced that new fathers and fathers-to-be will be offered mental health checks if their partner is suffering anxiety, psychosis or postnatal depression.
While it is well documented that pregnant women and and new mothers can experience mental health problems, up until now, little attention has been paid to the men folk.
NHS England says this help may take the form of peer support, couples’ behavioural therapy sessions, family and parenting interventions in community perinatal mental health settings, or other talking therapies.