Becoming a father is a life-altering experience that brings immense joy, but it also comes with substantial pressures.
New dads often grapple with concerns about their ability to provide for their family, fears of inadequacy in their parenting role, and the stress of adjusting to new responsibilities. These factors can contribute to feelings of anxiety, depression, and overwhelming stress.
Research indicates that up to 10% of new fathers experience postpartum depression, a statistic that underscores the need for mental health support tailored to men. Despite this, societal expectations and traditional notions of masculinity often discourage men from seeking help, leading to unaddressed mental health issues.
Providing early and effective support to new and expecting fathers can have a profound impact on their mental well-being which in turn aides the attachment and bonding with baby which is so very vital in the first 1001 days once baby arrives. These interventions help fathers-to-be feel more confident and less isolated in their journey.
Dad Matters Blackburn and Darwen exists to support dads to have the best possible relationship with their families. They work closely with other professionals within Blackburn and Darwen and nationally to better support dads on their parenting journey.
They offer Outreach services/drop-ins at maternity centres, and community venues, provide 1:1 peer support to dads, Signpost and support dads to access services and information to help make sense of being a dad and supporting dads with anxiety, stress and mental health awareness. Our Dad Matters coordinator for Blackburn and Darwen is Adam Crisp, he is a father of two young boys and after enjoying being able to be a stay at home dad whilst they were growing up, he now has a real desire to help other dads to be able to enjoy being a father to the fullest.
You can contact Adam through the Dad Matters website Blackburn and Darwen or via the email address dadmatters@home-start-bnd.org.uk