Helping Men Beat the Baby Blues
and Overcome Depression
Do You Have PPND?
Being a parent is hard. And being a new father of an infant is especially hard. It’s stressful. And conflicts with your partner that arise after a few sleepless nights can make things harder. But PPND is different. It’s a clinical condition.
PPND (Paternal Postnatal Depression) is common condition among men after the birth of a child. Up to 1 in 4 new dads have PPND. Depression, anxiety or other problems with mood can occur anytime during the first year of your child’s life. If you think you might have PPND, please carefully read this page and complete the assessment below.
PPND is a very serious condition. But it’s also a very treatable condition. If left untreated, however, PPND can result in damaging, long-term consequences for yourself, your child, and your family as a whole.
Click here to listen to a recent radio interview of Dr. Courtenay on KWMR FM. He talks about fatherhood and men's postpartum depression — including the hormonal changes men go through as new dads.
What Puts Me at Risk For PPND?
Unfortunately, we’re really only beginning to understand PPND. One of the things we know the least about is what puts men at risk for PPND. Here are some of the things that research suggests may increase your chances of experiencing PPND:
- A lack of good sleep
- Changes in hormones
- Personal history of depression
- Poor relationship with spouse
- Poor relationship with one or both parents
 Relationship stress – with a partner or with in-laws- Excessive stress about becoming a parent or father
- Nonstandard family (such as being unmarried or a stepfather)
- Poor social functioning
- A lack of support from others
- Economic problems or limited resources
- A sense of being excluded from the connection between the mother and baby
One thing we do know is that if your partner is depressed, there’s a good chance you are too. Up to half of men whose partners have postpartum depression are depressed themselves.
PPND Assessment
Do YOU have PPND? Complete the PPND Assessment and find out.
The assessment for PPND has always been offered FREE on PostpartumMen. It’s still free. But now, it’s part of a study we’re conducting.
The study’s survey includes the assessment for PPND, which will help you determine whether you might be experiencing either anxiety or depression. It is the most widely used assessment for postpartum depression and anxiety, and has been tested and found to be effective with men.
To receive your assessment score, please complete this survey. It will take only about 20 to 25 minutes. It’s completely anonymous (you will not be asked to identify yourself or provide any identifying information). This is the first study of its kind and will help us to help men with PPND – and to begin to understand its causes and consequences.
After completing the survey, you’ll receive the results from the assessment, which will tell you whether you might be experiencing PPND.
When the study’s completed, the anonymous findings will be posted on the web site. So, keep checking back.
To go directly to the survey, and receive your PPND and anxiety score, click here.
For more information about the study or the survey, click here.
An Important Word About The EPDS and Women
If there’s a chance that your partner is depressed, it’s important that she complete the EPDS as well. However, the instructions for completing the EPDS are different for women and men. Please suggest to your partner that she go to The Postpartum Stress Center online (www.postpartumstress.com) to obtain a copy of the EPDS, with specific instructions for women.
Sources:
Cox, J. L., Holden, J. M., & Sagovsky, R. (1987). Detection of postnatal depression: Development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. British Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 782-786.
Goodman, J.H. (2004). Paternal postpartum depression, its relationship to maternal postpartum depression, and implications for family health. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 45: 26-35.
Lane A., Keville R., Morris, M., Kinsella, A., Turner, M., & Barry, S. (1997). Postnatal depression and elation among mothers and their partners: prevalence and predictors. British Journal of Psychiatry. 171: 550-555.
Matthey S, Barnett B, Kavanagh DJ, Howie P (2001). Validation of the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale for men, and comparison of item endorsement with their partners. Journal of Affective Disorders, 64, 175-184.
Matthey S., Barnett B., Ungerer J., Waters B. (2000). Paternal and maternal depressed mood during the transition to parenthood. Journal of Affective Disorders. 60: 75-85.
Information on this web site is for educational purposes only. It may provide some self-help relief. However, it should not substitute for a comprehensive evaluation by a licensed mental health professional.
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