International Fathers Mental Health Day

6/16/2025

Although most of us—men and women alike—are socialized to think of men as providers of support during the perinatal period and early parenthood, a wealth of research shows that 10% of new dads experience paternal postpartum depression (50% when mom is depressed) and need support of their own.
However, the stigma against experiencing difficulties in early parenthood is even higher for men than for women. Society views men as stoic, self-sacrificing, and above all, strong. When men feel none of those things as new fathers, they often don’t want to admit it or seek help.
For this reason, Postpartum Support International is an enthusiastic supporter of International Fathers' Mental Health Day as a means to take a whole-family, father-inclusive approach by shedding light on the best practices and related resources for dads, their partners, and those who support them. Read More

Postpartum Support International offers f ree services and resources for dads, including:

The toll-free HelpLine provides support, resources, and basic information. HelpLine calls and texts are returned every day of the week by trained and caring volunteers.
The Dads Support Group is a free, virtual, peer support group where dads can connect with other dads who have newborns up to toddlers. In addition to sharing experiences, dads will learn about helpful tools and resources and realize they are not alone.
Specialized Coordinators are volunteers with personal experience with the challenges of living with a perinatal mental health condition while being a dad. These volunteers provide other fathers the opportunity to connect with someone who understands what it is like and share resources.
The Peer Mentor Program pairs dads in need of support with a trained volunteer who has also experienced and fully recovered from a perinatal mental health disorder. This one-to-one connection offers invaluable insight, encouragement, and hope.
A closed Facebook group for dads, where members can access great support and information from other dads.
Chat with an Expert is a free, live phone session for dads on the first Tuesday of each month. The calls provide reliable information, support, and resources. Dads can find answers and support from an expert and other dads.