When it comes to postpartum depression, which (by the way) is a very real thing, our minds naturally go to the effect of this condition on moms, but a recent article in JAMA (the Journal of the American Medical Association) suggests that depression among new dads is almost as likely in new dads.
While postpartum depression may have different causes and symptoms for moms and dads, welcoming a new baby into the family can be a stressful and exhausting time for both parents.
Researchers conducted a study of 9,600 parents in the Indianapolis area who were present during their newborn pediatric visits to reach this conclusion.
While it is customary to screen moms for this condition during visits, dads normally do not receive the same consideration. This is, in part, due to the fact that dads are less likely to be present during pediatric visits; however, the most likely time to see dads in the pediatricians’ offices is during the newborn visits.
The study found that 4.4 percent of fathers and 5 percent of mothers screened positive for depression.
Because parental depression can have lasting physical and mental health effects on young children, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all parents (both mothers and fathers) get screened for depression during well-baby and well-child visits. Although it is not the responsibility of pediatricians to treat parental depression, by including both moms and dads in this screening process, pediatricians may be the best opportunity to help new parents find help and resources to help them through this first parenting transition process.
The Case for Parental Leave
Twenty-five years ago, President Bill Clinton signed the Family and Medical Leave Act. The first and only federal leave legislation in the United States, guarantees nearly 60% of employees 12 weeks of job-protected unpaid leave to take care of a new baby, a sick relative or their own serious medical condition.
It leaves out lots of men and women (it doesn’t cover freelancers and those who work at companies with fewer than 50 employees, for example). It offers nothing in the way of income replacement, and the time period is too short, at least compared with more family-friendly countries such as France, the Netherlands and Spain, all of which offer 16 weeks at full wage replacement.
The United States still holds the unenviable title of being the only industrialized country that does not offer all of its citizens paid family leave.
The majority of women (and men) around the world live in countries that acknowledge the attendant challenges of this time and provide parents with some support. It’s about time Americans get to join them.
Retrieved from https://www.yahoo.com/news/dads-depression-screening-too-210730588.html
Retrieved from http://bit.ly/2JMuxfL JAMA Pediatrics, online July 23, 2018
Tomorrow’s Child/ September 2018/ Pg 33
