Fathers Network Scotland / Lìonra nan Athraichean
Fathers Network Scotland exists to:
- Promote the physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing of fathers in Scotland through the provision of support to men in all aspects of their role as fathers and to raise awareness and increase understanding of the importance of fathers in child development and parenting
- Advance education through the development and promotion of good practice in all aspects of work with fathers and the production and dissemination of information and research related to fatherhood and work with fathers.
We are campaigning for the better inclusion of dads within perinatal mental health services. Fathers Network Scotland’s research over many years is clear: fathers often feel excluded from perinatal services, and perinatal services still tell us that they’re not sure how to get dads involved. Despite the evidence, paternal perinatal mental health-focused work has not yet been specifically supported or prioritised within the three-year investment into third sector Perinatal and Infant Mental Health work. Here is our call to action and a summary of recommendations.
Find out about our Understanding Dad training
Find out about our Understanding Paternal Mental Health training
Movember x Fathers Network Scotland
Men at risk of becoming socially isolated following the global pandemic will be able to access new ways of receiving support for their mental health, thanks to Movember. The global men’s health charity has announced that they will be investing a total of AUD $3.54 million into 11 projects across Australia, Canada, the UK and Ireland, as part of the Movember’s Social Connections Challenge. One of those projects is Fathers Network Scotland’s men’s mental health app. In our latest blog we discuss this momentous project, the state of dads' mental health during this period of Covid recovery, the vital work of Perinatal Mental Health Midwives and the groundbreaking work of the Health Visitors we have worked with.
Summer Family Adventure
The Summer Family Adventure is a collaboration between Fathers Network Scotland, Children’s Parliament and Scottish Book Trust, using the Bookbug and Read, Write, Count books gifted to children across Scotland to inspire a summer of family outdoor reading, learning and playing.
Download your weekly adventure packs here.
Help Us to Change Employment Policy for Dads
Earlier in the year, 52% of dads we surveyed told us that balancing work and family was challenging or very challenging. 69% said their mental health or wellbeing has deteriorated. The results of the FNS 2020 and 2021 surveys provided invaluable feedback that has inspired further exploration of fathers’ experiences of COVID-19.
Kelsi Moran, a postgraduate student at the University of Edinburgh, is working with FNS to learn more about the effects of the pandemic on dads through survey research.
Find out more about Kelsi's research here, or go to the survey.
2021 Survey
As we lived through a second national lockdown here in Scotland, we undertook a follow up, completely anonymous survey to find out how things have changed for dads and their families. The results were shocking, with more than two thirds of dads saying their mental health had deteriorated. Read more about the research here and watch the DADx panel discussion here.
Our Covid-19 Response
FNS’s work is continuing across Scotland as we respond to increased demand for our support. In response, our projects & team continue to use a variety of innovative methods to maintain contact with our network offering support and resources.
We are offering online training, a dads' WhatsApp group, a free SMS support service for new parents, a Facebook group and DADx series of talks for dads' and families' workers, along with our directory and sign posting services. We have also developed a new resource for perinatal health professionals to support new dads through lockdown. Find out more here.