Fatherhood and Mental Illness

This report by Rhys Price-Robertson from the Australian Institute of Family Studies, provides practitioers and policy makers with a broad overview of some of the key issues surrounding paternal mental illness. Fatherhood and mental illness: a review of key issues identifies several important areas in need of attention, including:

• The transition to fatherhood and the early years of childrearing are periods when men are more likely to experience psychological stress

• The children of men with a mental illness are more likely than other children to experience emotional and behavioural problems, as well as to be diagnosed with a mental illness themselves.

• Fathers with a mental illness are more likely to show low levels of parental engagement  

• Fathers with a mental illness can be subject to unique forms of stigma 

• Psychiatric and welfare service providers in Australia and internationally have often struggled to effectively engage fathers