At Just Family CIC we live, believe and promote ‘Happy Parent = Happy Child’
When Just Family uses the term ‘parent’ we think of the main carer and this can include, but is not limited to, Mum, Dad, a grandparent, foster carer, adoptive parent etc.
Dads’ mental wellbeing counts too
Often when we think about perinatal, maternal and Parent mental wellbeing our first thoughts are ‘Mum’. However, Dad is a key part in the family unit too.
Bringing up children is hard work. It can be physically demanding, requiring at times lack of sleep, skipped or quick meals, and exposure to illness. It can also be mentally draining, particularly if you and/or your partner have a busy or stressful job.
Dads’ mental ill health can often go undetected, unrecognised or even misdiagnosed and unfortunately, that statistics show 75% of suicide are males (ONS, 2019).
We are slowly beginning to gain more awareness of Dads’ mental ill health and it is becoming increasingly recognised that Dads can experience pre/post-natal anxiety and/or depression as well as PTSD following a traumatic pregnancy and/or birth of their child.
Just Family CIC recognise the importance of supporting Dads too.
A big barrier for men (and Dads in particular) can be a sense of needing to cope with all of their problems alone. In fact, seeking help where you need to is brave, selfless, strong and a show of self-respect.
At Just Family CIC we promote and remind Dads that sharing your concerns and seeking help is something a strong, confident, healthy person needs to do!
Maintaining good mental wellbeing is just as important as having a physical healthy body; our mental wellbeing affects the way we think, feel and act. Wellbeing is more than just physical health – it involves your emotional, social and mental health too!
It is the overall satisfaction we feel about ourself and our life – which can go up and down depending on what’s happening in our life. Positive mental wellbeing can include:
- Feeling able to cope with daily stresses
- Having a sense of purpose and generally enjoying life
- Feeling able to manage negative emotions
- Feeling connected to your community
- Having supportive relationships
- Being able to do and enjoy things that are important to you
- The most important part of being a parent is looking after ourselves!
Parenting is a demanding job and takes a lot of both physical and emotional energy. It can be easy to lose sight of the importance of looking after ourselves. Especially if you are feeling, tired, stressed and/or exhausted.
But when we feel happy and well, we are better able to cope with stress, maintain relationships and enjoy parenthood.
There is NO such thing as a ‘perfect’ Parent – it is OK to struggle.
Many people worry that it will be difficult to cope with parenting if they have mental ill health. It is natural to be concerned about the impact this will have on you and your children as well as your wider family.
With the right support and resources though, it is perfectly possible to be a good enough parent while managing mental ill health, and to care for and support your children in a positive way.
Value, impact and benefits from accessing Just Family parent mental wellbeing services
- Early Help Intervention
- Research Evidence Based
- Early Positive Attachment
- Reduction on Primary Care Services (reduced demand for more expensive clinical treatment.
- Increased uptake to engage with agencies
- Increased social interaction, build confidence and self-esteem, be able to cope more robustly with setbacks and challenges, build and sustain healthier relationships.
Perinatal Mental Health
Perinatal mental health problems are those which occur during pregnancy or in the first year following the birth of a child.
Perinatal mental illness affects up to 20% of new and expectant mums and covers a wide range of conditions.
If left untreated, mental health issues can have significant and long-lasting effects on the woman, the child and the wider family. Perinatal mental health problems also affect Dads.