Men may have traditionally been in favour of the stiff upper lip rather than opening their mouths to ask for help. Turning to therapy was an option for softies, not for big boys who don’t cry.
And yet this seems to be changing. Gradually, there seems to be less of a stigma around men and mental health. A survey by the BACP in 2014 found that three-quarters of therapists were reporting a higher number of male clients compared with five years ago.
With the lessening of the stigma comes an increasing awareness of mental health issues in men – especially around the area of postnatal depression. It’s not just new mums who suffer from it. New fathers can experience perinatal depression too – and in high numbers. A father’s day survey from perinatal charity the NCT found that as many as two in five new dads were concerned about their mental health.
Postnatal depression may not be obvious at first in new fathers, but it can manifest through feeling low, anxious, hopeless, irritable, guilty and inadequate –and some new dads may find it difficult to connect with the baby. It may be a vague feeling of something not being quite right that you can’t put your finger on. Either way, it’s OK to talk to someone about it.
The NCT recommends counselling and therapy as one of the routes to coping with postnatal depression and helping you to feel more positive about yourself, your life and your family.
At The Awareness Centre our team of therapists can offer support if you’re suffering from postnatal depression or other associated issues, such as anxiety, anger management, overwhelm, stress, fatigue and hopelessness.
We have both male and female therapists, depending on who you’d feel more comfortable talking to. Speak to our Front of House team on 020 8673 4545 or email [email protected] and they’ll match you with the right therapist for you.