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Fathers and partners experiencing mental health challenges during pregnancy and early parenthood are often less likely to be identified or offered support than mothers.

To help address this, North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) recently brought together NHS services, charities and community organisations to explore how support for fathers, partners and non-birthing parents can be strengthened across north London.

Held ahead of Father's Day and organised by NLFT's Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service, the event created an opportunity for organisations working with families to share learning, identify gaps in support and strengthen referral pathways.

Attendees included Talking Therapies services, health visiting teams, Home-Start, Camden Family Hubs, maternity colleagues from University College London Hospitals (UCLH), and Arsenal Football Club's Social Inclusion team. This reflected the importance of engaging both clinical and community-based services who work with men, non-birthing parents and families.

The forum focused on building a clearer picture of the support available across north London and exploring how professionals can better connect families with help in their local communities.

Addressing an overlooked need

While perinatal mental health services have traditionally focused on mothers and babies, research suggests that around one in 10 fathers experiences depression during the perinatal period, while between 5% and 15% experience anxiety. The likelihood increases when their partner is also experiencing mental health difficulties. Despite this, fathers are often less likely to be identified as needing support.

Discussions at the forum focused on some of the barriers that can prevent fathers and partners from accessing help. Participants highlighted the stigma that can make it difficult for men to talk openly about their mental health, as well as the fact that paternal depression and anxiety can present differently from maternal mental health difficulties, meaning signs of distress may sometimes be overlooked.

Attendees also discussed how fathers frequently access support through routes other than mental health services, including children's services, family support programmes and community organisations. These interactions can provide valuable opportunities to identify when additional support may be needed and help families access the right services.

Candy Klotnick, Service Manager for NLFT's Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service, said:
"When a baby arrives, the focus understandably centres on the mother and infant, but we know that fathers and partners can also experience significant emotional and psychological challenges. By working more closely across organisations, we can improve awareness, reduce stigma and help ensure that families receive support at the earliest opportunity."

Supporting fathers and partners is a growing area of focus nationally, with the NHS 10-Year Health Plan calling for perinatal mental health services to strengthen their approach to fathers and partners alongside mothers.

We will continue build on the forum by creating further opportunities for organisations to share learning, strengthen partnerships and improve awareness of the support available to families across north London.

•    Learn more about our Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service
•    Access information and guidance for fathers and partners during the perinatal period