Fathers and Families: Integrative Approaches for Paternal Perinatal Mental Health

About Session

Session Description: 

Paternal perinatal mood and anxiety disorders remain underrecognized despite affecting approximately one in ten fathers. This presentation explores how perinatal mental health challenges manifest uniquely in fathers, including the predominance of anxiety over depression, delayed onset beyond the immediate postpartum period, and symptoms such as withdrawal and obsessive-compulsive behaviors.

This session examines hormonal changes fathers experience during the perinatal period and their influence on neurotransmitters, alongside the compounding effects of stress, sleep deprivation, and other factors. It covers evidence-based screening approaches and explores both conventional mental health interventions and integrative therapies, including how the unique lens of naturopathic medicine allows for holistic support of fathers and their families. This presentation equips clinicians, medical providers, and perinatal health professionals with practical tools to identify, assess, and support fathers experiencing perinatal mental health challenges. Although focused on paternal health, the content translates broadly to maternal care, emphasizing that supporting fathers strengthens entire family systems and ultimately benefits mothers and babies.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the prevalence and impact of paternal perinatal mental health on the health of mothers and babies.
2. Effectively screen and assess fathers for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
3. Understand, measure, and optimize hormones that change in both fathers and mothers during the perinatal period, and how they interact with neurotransmitters and mood changes.
4. Optimally support fathers during the perinatal period.
5. Become familiar with mental health and integrative therapies to support fathers and mothers.