'It's common to feel overwhelmed or stressed when looking after a new baby'
For working mothers, a lack of access to support can lead to stress and poor health. Women remain overwhelmingly responsible for child-rearing and domestic chores, which can affect their overall health.
But new research has found that a lack of support in the workplace can impact new fathers as well.
Only one in five new fathers felt well supported by their workplace during their partner’s pregnancy, according to new research from Gidget Foundation Australia. It also found that just one in three felt supported when returning from parental leave.
“That feeling of support is really around the practical support that they're getting from their workplace to balance and juggle the transition to parenthood,” Karen Edwards, clinical director at Gidget Foundation Australia, says. “And the flexibility that's required to be there to support their baby and their partner.
“It's also around feeling that it's okay for them to talk about the challenges of parenting. And that some of the changes that they might need to help accommodate their changing routine, their feelings of stress etcetera in the workplace probably aren't being acknowledged or recognised.”
Each year, almost 100,000 expectant and new parents are affected by perinatal depression and anxiety (PNDA), according to the Gidget Foundation. The perinatal period refers to the time before, and up to a year after, giving birth, with PNDA being diagnosed when symptoms of depression and anxiety have been present for two weeks or more.
While PNDA is more prevalent in mothers – affecting one in five – it can happen to new fathers as well, with one in 10 experiencing it.
Symptoms of PNDA can range from feelings of sadness, worry or irritability, through to a change in appetite, sleep or energy levels. And Edwards highlighted how important it was for men talk about their experiences with it.
“We know that nearly half of Australian fathers don't realise men can experience PNDA,” she said. “And more than two thirds of new dads don't know how to identify the warning signs.
“Acknowledging that PNDA doesn't just affect mothers is really important and talking about it, so that other dads are able to understand what might be happening to them, why the transition of parenthood might be such a struggle for them, and the importance of seeking help.”
Parental leave in Australia
Currently, eligible workers who are the primary carer of a newborn or newly adopt a child have access to 18 weeks of paid parental leave. Eligible working fathers and partners, on the other hand, get access to two weeks of paid leave.
However, from July 1, there will be major changes to the paid parental leave scheme. The current leave schemes will be combined, meaning partnered couples will be able to get up to 20 weeks of paid parental leave between them. And parents who are single when they make a claim can get the full 20 weeks of leave.
In addition, there will be more flexibility in how the leave is claimed, with parents able to get the leave in multiple blocks until their child is two years old.
To support new dads in the workplace Edwards said business leaders should encourage them to take extended parental leave so they’re able to prioritise getting to know their baby.
“They can also look to adopt and normalise more genuinely flexible work practices to encourage better work-life balance,” she said. “And I think this messaging needs to come from the top. It’s really important that HR leaders are authentically messaging both what the policy is and the organisation's support for dads accessing that policy. I think if we don't see our senior leaders accessing parental leave it makes it much harder for others to feel that that is a normal and expected part of workplace behaviour.”
Workplaces need to look at their leave policies and whether they are well set up to encourage dads to take the time to adjust to new parenthood, Edwards added. And a workplace’s openness to flexibility is one way to encourage that.
“In 2023, dads want to be more involved in parenting,” Edwards said. “But that can't happen unless workplaces refresh the concept of what is expected from men in the workplace. High flexibility does not mean low commitment.”
Employers can also play a part in supporting new dads when they return to work and normalising the process of seeking professional support.
“We need employers to ensure they are checking in with new dads about how they are coping with the adjustment to parenting when they return to work,” Edwards added.
And if new dads are feeling some of the symptoms of PNDA, Edwards advised that they should speak to their GP as a first step and also consider talking to other new dads about their experiences.
“It's really important to remember it's common to feel overwhelmed or stressed when looking after a new baby and you're not alone,” she said. “It can be really hard to reach out to other people but if you can, and [can] get that support, that really helps. And it's really important for dads not to be too hard on themselves. It's okay to just be okay sometimes and no one does parenting perfectly.”
