A new Movember report has revealed most Australian fathers are not being asked about their mental health during early parenthood, despite many struggling during the transition to becoming a dad.
Movember’s More Than a Provider report surveyed more than 1,200 Australian fathers with children aged up to 10, and found three in five new dads were never asked about their mental health during their partner’s pregnancy or in the first year after birth.
The report found 84 per cent of fathers said becoming a dad gave their life greater meaning, while more than three‑quarters said fatherhood was more important than career success. Despite this, one in four fathers rated their physical or mental health as poor or fair during their child’s first year.
Special Envoy for Men’s Health and Federal Member for Hunter, Dan Repacholi, said the findings showed dads are more involved and emotionally open than previous generations, but many are still struggling without support.
“Becoming a dad is one of the proudest moments in a bloke’s life, but it can also be one of the hardest,” he said.
“We need to make it easier for dads to talk about their health, get support early and stay connected during one of the biggest transitions of their lives.”
“The opportunity now is to build practical support around fathers, including routine check-ins, confident health workers and community programs that help dads stay connected.”
