As any parent knows, raising a child is one of the hardest things a person can ever do. It is a life long journey that is impossible to predict, and for which there is no instruction manual. Add to that the physical trauma and intense hormonal influences, and we can see why mothers are, and should be, the primary concern. But it doesn’t end there. Because with more and more fathers raising children, the issue of postnatal depression in men, has emerged into the conversation to a very lukewarm reception. Some scoff arrogantly. Others sit and listen. But really, the truth is simple. Fathers struggle physically and emotionally too, often having the same sleepless nights, and same pressures as mothers do. Many fathers are stepping up to the same plate, and swinging the same bat, and deserve the same support and applause as the mothers opposite them. So too there is evidence that a father’s hormonal system also fluctuates, leaving him uniquely vulnerable, and twice as likely to be depressed as men in the general population. In fact, around one in ten new fathers will develop #postnataldepression. But the media, the medical industry, the general public, and politicians, continue to do their usual bit… by not talking about it. If anything, it becomes yet another badly made joke, with which to point and laugh at men with, like ‘man flu’, or ‘male fragility’. To most healthcare bodies it is not even recognised, let alone respected, or responded to as a legitimate and important problem. So why not? Why does such a prevalent and real issue continue to draw apathy, and sneers of disbelief? Why can’t we support fathers as we do mothers? How can we continue to demand more and more of dads, whilst giving so little back in return? What do you think? ~
Images by Devon Devine, Humphrey Muleba, Mitchell Luo, Kelli Mcclintok, and Kiwi Hug. Sources PPD in Men  Sad Dads  Testosterone and Depression BBC Male PPD, why men struggle in silence  #fathers #dad #dadsofinstagram #parentsofinstagram #fathersrights

2023-10-14