Understanding fathers' perinatal mental health and well-being support needs: a qualitative study of fathers' and professionals' perspectives in North East England and North Cumbria, UK.
Watkins A, El Zerbi C, McGovern R, Rankin J • BMJ open • 2026
Reflexive thematic analysis of fathers' and professionals' accounts identified that greater father inclusion within perinatal services, policies and antenatal education, and adoption of a 'whole family' emotional support approach, may help fathers feel more recognised and supported throughout the perinatal journey.
Key Findings
Results
Fathers reported experiencing profound isolation and limited emotional and mental health support during the perinatal period.
Fathers described feeling isolated, excluded, and receiving limited support within perinatal services.
21 fathers participated in in-depth semistructured interviews and focus groups.
The study was conducted in North East England and North Cumbria (NENC), UK.
Restricted emotional support for fathers was identified as having negative consequences for the whole family dynamic.
Results
Reflexive thematic analysis identified two main themes and five subthemes centred around paternal isolation and limited support during the parenting transition.
The two main themes were: (1) 'The Pregnant and Postnatal Man' and (2) 'Removing the cloak of fatherhood invisibility.'
Five subthemes were identified across the two main themes.
Analysis was based on accounts from 30 participants in total (21 fathers and 9 professionals).
Both fathers' and professionals' perspectives were captured to provide a broader understanding of current perinatal service provision.
Results
Fathers were perceived as largely invisible within existing perinatal services, policies, and antenatal education.
The theme 'Removing the cloak of fatherhood invisibility' reflects the perception that fathers are structurally excluded from perinatal care.
Both fathers and professionals identified limited recognition of fathers' emotional well-being and mental health needs within perinatal services.
Professionals were drawn from voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector and social care services associated with supporting families, children, and perinatal mental health.
Greater father inclusion within perinatal services, policies, and antenatal education was considered a potential remedy for this invisibility.
Results
A 'whole family' emotional support approach within perinatal services was considered important by both fathers and professionals to support fathers and facilitate a positive transition for the whole family.
Recognition of fathers' emotional well-being and mental health was identified as a key component of a whole family approach.
The findings suggest this approach could support not only fathers but also the broader family dynamic.
Both fathers (n=21) and professionals (n=9) endorsed this perspective.
The transition into fatherhood was characterised as involving personal development, lifestyle, and emotional adjustments that current services inadequately address.
Methods
The study used a qualitative design involving in-depth semistructured interviews and focus groups with fathers and professionals across the NENC region.
Total sample comprised 30 participants: 21 fathers and 9 professionals from VCSE and social care services.
Professionals were from organisations associated with supporting families, children, and perinatal mental health across the NENC.
Fathers were required to be resident within the North East and North Cumbria.
Reflexive thematic analysis was the analytical method applied to participants' accounts.
Background
Limited prior research had explored both father and professional input regarding paternal perinatal support and how healthcare and child and family services can engage fathers and their mental and emotional support needs.
The authors identified a gap in qualitative research specifically examining fathers' perinatal mental health and well-being support needs from both fathers' and professionals' perspectives.
The study aimed to explore fathers' mental health and well-being experiences, defined as emotional or/and social well-being, within the perinatal period.
The study also examined current viewpoints of perinatal services including maternity, healthcare, and social care services.
The transition into fatherhood is described as 'a profound life stage' with potential adverse impacts on fathers' mental health.
What This Means
This research explored how new and expectant fathers experience their mental health and emotional well-being during the perinatal period (pregnancy and after birth), and what kind of support they need. The study involved in-depth interviews and focus groups with 21 fathers and 9 professionals from social care and community organisations in North East England and North Cumbria. By analysing these conversations, researchers identified two major themes: fathers feeling like 'The Pregnant and Postnatal Man' — navigating their own emotional changes largely unseen — and a broader pattern described as 'the cloak of fatherhood invisibility,' meaning fathers are routinely overlooked by maternity and perinatal health services.
The findings highlight that becoming a father is a significant life transition involving real emotional and social challenges, but that current perinatal services, policies, and antenatal (prenatal) education rarely acknowledge or address fathers' mental health needs. Both fathers and the professionals who work with families reported that this exclusion leaves fathers feeling isolated and unsupported, which in turn can negatively affect the whole family, including partners and children.
This research suggests that deliberately including fathers in perinatal services and antenatal education, and adopting what the authors call a 'whole family' approach to emotional support, could help fathers feel more recognised and better equipped during this major life transition. Rather than focusing exclusively on the birthing parent, services might benefit from routinely considering fathers' emotional well-being as part of family-centred care. The study points to a need for policy changes and service redesign to make perinatal support more inclusive of fathers.
Watkins A, El Zerbi C, McGovern R, Rankin J. (2026). Understanding fathers' perinatal mental health and well-being support needs: a qualitative study of fathers' and professionals' perspectives in North East England and North Cumbria, UK.. BMJ open. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2026-121953