New publications on fathers’ mental health and wellbeing

iHV Fellow, Sharin Baldwin, publishes Systematic Review on First Time Fathers’ Mental Health and Wellbeing and accompanying editorial on the importance of men’s mental health to coincide with International Men’s Day (19 November) – a worldwide celebration of the positive value that men bring to the world, their families and communities.

They both are open access publications.

Sharin Baldwin

Systematic Review on First Time Fathers’ Mental Health and Wellbeing

The findings from the systematic review on first time fathers’ mental health and wellbeing revealed that fathers wanted:

More guidance and support to prepare them for parenthood, specifically to better prepare them for subsequent relationship changes with their partner
Access to tailored information and to be equally included in consultations and contacts with relevant health professionals.

Go to Mental health and wellbeing during the transition to fatherhood - a systematic review of first time fathers’ experiences

The synthesis of the international evidence has important implications for healthcare professionals working with families in the early years, with particular reference to the need to consider the mental health and wellbeing of mothers and fathers. The review also highlighted that healthcare professionals need a greater understanding of the dilemmas and challenges that new fathers face to better support their mental health and wellbeing during this crucial transitional period.

Evidence from our systematic review adds further support for an urgent review of how we plan, provide and resource maternity and early years services, in order to recognise the impact that pregnancy and birth may have on a father’s mental health, as well as the essential role fathers play in supporting their partner and infant. If the aim of health research is to improve outcomes through the implementation of evidence and use of evidence-based practices, we should ask ourselves why barriers persist to address and recognise paternal mental health needs. Now is the time to use this evidence to change practice towards supporting both parents and provide more equitable care and use of resources.

Editorial piece on the importance of men’s mental health

Editorial: Mental health of first time fathers – it's time to put evidence into practice

Further information

For further information on Sharin’s research, please see her study website.

Sharin Baldwin RN, RM, RHV, QN, FiHV, HV Research Champion, BSc (Hons), PG Dip, MSc

NIHR Clinical Doctoral Fellow, King’s College London

Clinical Academic for Community Nursing, London North West University Healthcare Trust

Who’s the bloke in the room? report

“Who’s the bloke in the room?” a report published by the Fatherhood Institute and funded by the Nuffield Foundation, details how expectant fathers in Britain are key influences on maternal and infant health and wellbeing, including on pregnant women’s smoking, diet, physical activity and mental health, and on children’s later adjustment.

The Fatherhood Institute’s report, Who’s the bloke in the room? recommends a more family-centred service that enrols expectant fathers in maternity services from ‘booking in’, records and responds to their health needs and behaviours, and which trains maternity staff to engage with them. The Fatherhood Institute calls on the NHS to include expectant and new fathers at all stages and inform them as thoroughly as it currently informs pregnant women and new mothers.

You can access the full Who’s the bloke in the room? report (and others in the series) here

Survey – Fathers’ experiences of maternity services

The iHV is committed to raising awareness of Fathers’ mental health – and we want to share a short survey from the Fatherhood Institute www.fatherhoodinstitute.org and Fathers’ Network Scotland http://www.fathersnetwork.org.uk .

The survey asks first-time fathers about their recent (within 5 years) experiences of maternity services in Britain. We think this is an important issue and hope you can spare five minutes to fill it out yourself (if you are eligible) or share it among friends, family and work colleagues.

So far 750 fathers have already shared their experiences in the survey – it would be great to get more feedback for them – so please do share the survey link.

Go to Father's survey

The closing date is 31 May, and the results will be published in time for Father’s Day on 17 June 2018.

As part of the highly acclaimed iHV Perinatal and Infant Mental Health training offers, the iHV has a one-day Fathers and Perinatal Mental Health Champion training programme for all health and social care professionals

Find out more about the iHV Fathers and Perinatal Mental Health Champions training programme

For further information please contact [email protected]

New and Updated Good Practice Points

The iHV is delighted to share new Good Practice Points and updates to GPPs, providing up-to-date evidence and references for our Associate members:

NEW: GPP – Postnatal Psychosis

These Good Practice Points, authored by Dr Judy Shakespeare, retired GP, Royal College of General
Practitioners Clinical Champion in perinatal mental health, set out what health visitors need to know about Postnatal Psychosis. They provide up-to-date evidence and references.

GPP - Postnatal Psychosis

UPDATED: GPP – Understanding Mothers’ Mental Health & Wellbeing

UPDATED: GPP – Understanding Fathers’ Mental Health & Wellbeing

These Good Practice Points, authored by Sharin Baldwin, Health Visiting Clinical Academic Lead, London North West Healthcare NHS Trust, set out what health visitors need to know about Understanding both Mothers’ & Fathers’ Mental Health & Wellbeing during their transition to parenthood. They provide up-to-date evidence and references.

Updated October 2016.

Understanding Mothers’ & Fathers’ Mental Health & Wellbeing

Please note that these GPPs are available to iHV members only.

If you’re not a member, please join us to get access to all of our resources.

The iHV is a self-funding charity – we can only be successful in our mission to strengthen health visiting practice if the health visiting profession and its supporters join us on our journey. We rely on our membership to develop new resources for our members.

So do join us now!