Postpartum depression is commonly associated with women, but men can also experience this condition. Paternal postpartum depression affects fathers during or after a partner’s pregnancy, often caused by hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, or the stress of adjusting to parenthood. Understanding that postpartum depression is not exclusive to women helps raise awareness and ensure men receive the support they need.

If you or a loved one is experiencing postpartum depression, know that help is available. Call us today or visit our Admissions page to learn how we can provide the support and care you need.

What Is Postpartum Depression?

Postpartum depression, or PPD, is a depressive disorder with symptoms that begin while a person is pregnant or within a few months after they have given birth. 

A person’s physical and mental health can be affected by a range of pregnancy-related concerns, including the strain of carrying a child in utero, hormonal fluctuations, and the stress of caring for a newborn. 

For many people who have just given birth, the combined impact of these factors leads to “the baby blues,” a temporary lowering of mood and energy that typically subsides as a person’s body heals and they adapt to their new responsibilities. 

If these types of symptoms become more severe, cause greater disruptions, and endure for an extended period, the individual may have developed postpartum depression. 

How Common is Postpartum Depression?

Though PPD is not as widely understood as other mental health concerns, it is by no means a rare condition:

• Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 10%-19.8% of people develop mental health concerns (primarily depression) during their pregnancy or shortly after delivering a child.
• A recent analysis of electronic health records from Southern California found that the rate of postpartum depression was 19.3% in 2021. This represented a significant increase from 2010, when records from the same area revealed a 9.4% rate of postpartum depression.

Is PPD Different Than Depression?

The clinical term for postpartum depression is major depressive disorder with peripartum onset. 

The primary difference between the two is timing. PPD occurs only during or immediately after a pregnancy. In contrast, the symptoms of major depressive disorder can happen at any time.

Also, postpartum depression can include symptoms that would only apply to the parent of a newborn, such as:

• Fear that the individual isn’t a good parent
• Difficulty bonding with the infant
• Thoughts of harming themselves or their child

In particularly severe cases, PPD can include psychotic symptoms. These may involve hallucinations and delusions. For example, a person might believe their child is possessed and should be harmed.

Can Men Get Postpartum Depression?

Having established some fundamentals about the nature and scope of PPD, let’s now address the main question: Can men get postpartum depression?

The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) describes major depressive disorder with peripartum onset. However, the description specifically uses the terms “woman” and “women.”

Does this mean that men can’t get postpartum depression? Not exactly. 

Men can develop depression related to childbirth in two scenarios:

• Men whose partners are pregnant or have recently given birth
• Transgender men who are pregnant and give birth themselves

Looking at the condition from the perspective of a person who has not given birth themselves, factors that can lead to postpartum depression in men include:

• Worry that they won’t be able to handle the responsibility of being a father
• Changes in their relationship with their partner due to the presence of a new baby
• The financial impact of having and raising a child
• Lifestyle changes due to becoming a parent
• Caring for a partner who is struggling with postpartum depression, anxiety, or another pregnancy-related mental health concern

What Are the Symptoms of Postpartum Depression in Men?

Now that we understand that men can get postpartum depression, it can be helpful to take a look at how men are affected by this condition. Possible symptoms of postpartum depression in men can include:

• Pervasive sadness
• Fatigue, exhaustion, and lethargy
• Little to no motivation
• Difficulty focusing and concentrating
• Abnormal sleep patterns, which can include insomnia and hypersomnia
• Changes in eating habits and unintentional weight loss or gain
• Resentment toward the newborn
• Inability to form a healthy bond with the child
• Sense of hopelessness, helplessness, or worthlessness
• Recurrent thoughts of death and dying, which may include suicidal ideation

The suicide risk among people who have depression should not be ignored: 

• A January 2024 JAMA Network Open study found that women who develop depression during or after pregnancy are three times more likely to engage in suicidal behaviors than are women who don’t have peripartum depression. 
• The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) reports that the risk of suicide among people with untreated depression is about 20%. For purposes of comparison, among American men in the general public the suicide rate in 2021 was 0.023%.

If you believe that you or someone you know is at imminent risk of suicide, please summon help immediately. In the U.S., you can access the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or visiting the organization’s website. This free resource, which is available 24/7, is staffed by trained professionals who can connect you with appropriate resources in your area.

Find Postpartum Depression Treatment in Atlanta

Postpartum depression can have a devastating impact on your health and well-being. But when you get effective treatment from a qualified healthcare provider, your life can get much better.

Valor Behavioral Health offers personalized treatment and compassionate support to adults and adolescents of all genders whose lives have been disrupted by depression and other pregnancy-related mental health concerns.

When you choose our outpatient mental health treatment center near Atlanta, Georgia, you can expect to receive customized care from a team of highly skilled professionals. We will work closely with you to identify the full scope of your needs, then select the programs and therapies that are most appropriate for you. 

With our help, you can learn to manage your symptoms and start to live a healthier and more hopeful life.

To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free consultation, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.