Mums slam dads who say they get postnatal depression… so can men REALLY have it?
Despite it being most commonly associated with new mums and women, PND does also affect men and is a serious concern for families and doctors, says Dr. Carol Cooper
A MUMSNET user has sparked a furious debate after accusing men of 'trying to take postnatal depression from women'.
The forum, in the site's , was posted shortly after a segment on male PND on Wednesday's episode of This Morning, which explained how men can also be affected.
Sun expert Dr. Carol Cooper said that postnatal depression can affect up to twenty per cent of men.
She said: "While men don’t give birth, it's still a major life event. They often worry about their partner and the baby, and may also have concerns about how they’ll cope with their new role."
The poster, using the moniker Foxysoxy01, who was clearly unaware that it is recognised in men and women, provoked a flurry of responses.
She fumed: "Now I understand it is a massive change to both parents with a new baby and can quite believe that it could cause stress and worry, even depression for the non birthing partner but why would it have to be postnatal depression which feels more female and is a term used for women who have given birth?
"The thing I have an issue with (maybe I'm an unreasonable cynical cow) does it not seem another thing that men have to take away from women?
"It feels a little bit like taking away a real horrible issue that women who have given birth sometimes face and making it all about men again and how very hard they have it.
"My AIBU is I'm I being a real in empathetic bitch or is this just another case of men having to take over women's experiences and issues?
"Or is it just a word I'm getting hung up on and technically it is actually correct that they may have postnatal depression?"
Over 200 people commented on the post, with some agreeing with Foxysoxy01, and others telling her that she was wrong and that their own partners and husbands had been affected.
While postnatal depression is usually associated with women, it is very much a condition that can affect both sexes.
Sun expert Dr. Carol Cooper said: "Postnatal depression is a very real condition that can affect men as well as women, and that's been recognised for over 20 years.
"Research suggests that one in every 10 new dads develops some form of depression, whereas nearly two in every 10 new mums get it. It may be about half as common as it is in women, but that's still a very significant number.
"Nobody knows the exact cause of postnatal depression, though it’s clear that oestrogen and other female hormones must have very little to do with it.
"Stress, sleep loss, and dealing with all the other realities of having a new baby probably play a larger role in postnatal depression.
";Men with postnatal depression often have partners who have the condition too.
"The symptoms are similar to any other form of depression, with low mood, poor concentration, loss of interest in things, weight changes, feeling worthless, and even thoughts of suicide.
"Unfortunately, a dad who’s depressed is unlikely to provide the support his partner needs when there’s a new baby.
"Recognising and treating postnatal depression in men is important to the whole family’s wellbeing."
Ross Hunt appeared on This Morning with his partner Rachel to explain how his initial dislike for his infant daughter spiralled in to hatred, a journey he has
He explained he had been suffering with depression for seven years before the birth of his first child, and "I thought, as soon as we had the baby it would be fine.
"[But] I didn't feel anything. That fatherly feeling, it just didn't come.
"It started with numb feelings and it eventually spiralled from dislike to hatred."
Viewers at home were also divided over his story, with one echoing the sentiments of the Mumsnet crowd, : "Male post natal depression coming up on #ThisMorning. Because women can't have anything without men wanting it too, can they lol."
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