newy.com.au – New Australian research showing three in five new dads were not asked about their mental health during pregnancy or the first year after birth has prompted Hunter MP Dan Repacholi to back calls for routine mental health screening for fathers.
Mr Repacholi, the Special Envoy for Men’s Health and Federal Member for Hunter, said the findings from Movember’s More Than a Provider report highlighted the pressures many men faced during early parenthood, even as fathers became more involved in family life.
The report surveyed more than 1200 Australian fathers with children aged up to 10 and found many men viewed fatherhood as deeply positive. Eighty-four per cent said becoming a father gave their life greater meaning, 77 per cent said it helped them express love and vulnerability more openly, and 72 per cent said they were more involved in day-to-day care than their own father had been.
More than three in four fathers also said fatherhood was more important than career success.
Despite those findings, one in four fathers rated their physical or mental health as poor or fair during the first year of fatherhood. The report also found dads experiencing financial pressure were significantly more likely to report poor physical and mental health outcomes.
Mr Repacholi said modern dads were more open and determined to be present for their families, but too many were left to struggle without support.
“Becoming a dad is one of the proudest moments in a bloke’s life, but it can also be one of the hardest,” Mr Repacholi said.
“Aussie dads are stepping up for their kids and families in really positive ways, but too often nobody checks in to see how they’re coping.
“We need to make it easier for dads to talk about their health, get support early and stay connected during one of the biggest transitions of their lives.”
Movember Global Director of Men’s Health Research Dr Zac Seidler said better support for fathers would benefit families more broadly.
“Dads want to be present, involved and healthy for their families,” Dr Seidler said.
“The opportunity now is to build practical support around fathers, including routine check ins, confident health workers and community programs that help dads stay connected.”
Mr Repacholi said he would continue working with organisations including Movember to encourage men to seek support earlier and speak more openly about their health.
