New fathers across Yorkshire at risk of increased trauma levels, campaigners warn

Medical experts have warned that here is an increased need to ensure new fathers, across Yorkshire and the UK, are being given adequate support as the focus is often on new mothers.

New fathers are already twice as likely as other men to have poor mental health, when this worsens both they and their families suffer and long-term consequences can be severe, warned officials from the UK’s think tank, the Fatherhood Institute.

The world’s leading independent ‘think tank’ on fatherhood will be producing research next month about fathers’ and father figures’ experiences during the Covid lockdown.

Their next survey will gather much-needed data on the ways in which fathers are being shut out from maternity care.

The institute said they expect to find increased trauma when fathers have missed the birth or part of a difficult labour; have not been at a scan when their partner has been given bad news; or have felt ill-informed or poorly equipped to support her when healthcare support has ‘gone missing’.

Dr Davies said: “We expect our upcoming research to reveal high levels of isolation and anxiety among new dads, and their babies’ mothers”.

For Neil Gouldson, 40, who welcomed twins into the world, at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, in Sheffield, with his partner Chloe Hindmarsh, 36, on May 6, he was only allowed to be present during the ‘active labour’ and spend two hours after with them before they were separated.

He returned to hospital two days later to take his family home, and said: “For me it was a bit strange, not really being able to be there that much.”

Mr Gouldson, a self-employed record store owner, said it was also difficult not being able to introduce the twins to his parents.

“There is the dark side of family not being able to see them but we’ve got to look positively at it because if we focus on all the negatives then you could just spiral into some form of depression.”

In West Yorkshire, father-of-two Jack Bruce, 26, said it had been difficult to return to work full-time as a police community officer in Leeds recently, after the birth of his daughter Violet, on 24 April with his partner Jessica Rowlands, 23, at Pinderfields Hospital.

Miss Rowlands is also looking after the couple's son Ezra, who is 16 months old.

Mr Bruce said: “As soon as I leave the house I think - “how is she going to cope.” Ezra is a handful and Violet still hasn’t settled so as soon as I leave they both start crying and I feel terrible”.

While the Fatherhood Institute welcomed the Government’s £5m to mental health charities to fund additional services for people struggling with their mental health as a result of the pandemic, they have called for extra funding to be provided to develop essential online resources and extra support from professionals.

Dr Davies said: “If professionals addressed fathers directly, even if only via Zoom, it would help”.

He added: “If we can find some funding, we’d like to develop some really good online resources

As part of a special investigation by The Yorkshire Post parents from around the region have spoken of the emotional anguish they felt due to the lack of support before, during and after the birth because of the strict measures introduced by hospitals.

You can read the full investigation here.______________________________

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