The effects of a father's depression on his kids

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Transcription:

Without effective treatment, a man's postpartum depression can have long-term, damaging consequences for himself, his marriage, his job, and most importantly, for his kids. The impact of depression on kids, is probably one of the best reasons to get help. Research consistently shows, that postpartum depression has long-term negative consequences on his kids. We see this in kids as young as two, all the way through adolescents into young adulthood. These kids suffer more cognitively, behaviorally, psychologically, and socially. This is not surprising because fathers who are depressed, are involved less with their kids. The engage them less in activities. For example, they are less likely to read to them. Not surprisingly, in kids as young as two have problems developing language. At age three and a half, we start to see behavioral and emotional problems. All of these problems affect boys more than girls, because boys are more negatively affect than girls by a father's depression. It is really important for a father to get help. If he can't do it for himself, then do it for his kids.

Video Categories: ALL PARENTS, Parenting, Parental Stress and Anger, PREGNANCY, Self-Care for Parents, Postpartum Depression

Psychotherapist Will Courtenay, PhD, explains how a man's postnatal depression can affect his kids and why it is important to treat postnatal depression so that it doesn't affect his children for a longer time

Transcript

Expert Bio

Will Courtenay, PhD

Psychotherapist

Dr. Will Courtenay, “The Men’s Doc,” is an internationally recognized expert in helping boys, men and fathers, and a psychotherapist, consultant, distinguished author, researcher, keynote speaker, radio host, and consultant to and speaker at schools and universities. His new book is titled Dying To Be Men. The American Psychological Association calls him, “a leading psychologist in the field of masculinity” and Who’s Who in America calls him a “foremost achiever in his field.” As one of the world’s leading innovators in the health of boys and men, he has a documented history of success in shaping and promoting this new field, as well as new perspectives on fatherhood, boyhood, and masculinity. Dr. Courtenay received his PhD from the University of California at Berkeley and has served on the clinical faculty in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the University of California, San Francisco, Medical School. He is the Founding Editor of the International Journal of Men's Health. Dr. Courtenay is a powerful, effective voice about boys and men, heard nationally on radio and television – including CNN, Good Morning America, World News, Fox News, ABC News, NBC News – and seen in print – including NY Times, LA Times, Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report, NPR, Newsweek, USA Today, and Chicago Tribune. Dr. Courtenay is a contributor to Esquire Magazine.