
The first 1,000 days of a child’s life—spanning from pregnancy to their second birthday—are the most influential in shaping their future. During this time, a child’s brain develops at an extraordinary rate, and the experiences they have can profoundly impact their physical, cognitive, and emotional growth.
To give every child the best possible start, it's essential for practitioners to support not only new mums but also recognise the often-overlooked needs of new dads. Fathers play a pivotal role in their children's early development, and their mental health is crucial to that process.
One in eight fathers experience postnatal depression, and up to 45% of dads are affected by postnatal stress and anxiety. These mental health challenges can significantly impact a father’s ability to bond with, care for, and nurture his child. If left unaddressed, poor paternal mental health can ripple through the family, affecting the mother’s well-being and influencing the child’s emotional, intellectual, and psychological development.
It’s crucial that we take an inclusive, holistic approach to supporting all parents during this critical period. By prioritising paternal mental health and ensuring fathers receive the support they need, we can create healthier family environments and foster positive outcomes for both parents and children.
Foundations (Free)
Understand Paternal Mental Health
Explore the often-overlooked mental health journey of new fathers and its profound impact on families in this engaging, free 1-hour session. We will dive into the unique challenges fathers face during the transition into fatherhood, offering valuable perspectives on how these challenges affect not just dads, but their partners, children, and overall family dynamics. By the end of the session, you'll leave with a renewed, eye-opening understanding of fatherhood and paternal mental health.
What you'll learn: How biological, psychological, and social factors affect new dads' mental health and the profound impact it can have on whole families. You'll also explore how engaging with dads can create stronger family support systems and contribute to more positive outcomes for everyone involved.
Ideal For: Professionals working with families and children, as well as those supporting dads directly through fatherhood groups or services, who want to deepen their understanding of paternal mental health and its impact.
Open Training (£95 per Person)
Developing Confidence and Practical Skills
Our engaging half-day Open Training brings professionals together to explore the complexities of paternal mental health, offering evidence-based insights and practical strategies that can be applied across contexts. You’ll also have the opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and collaborate on effective solutions. By the end of the session, you’ll leave feeling more confident in your ability to support dads and enhance outcomes for the families you work with.
What You’ll Learn: How to identify mental health issues in new dads, support their well-being, and navigate the resources available to improve outcomes for the whole family unit.
Ideal For: Professionals looking to build confidence in effectively supporting dads and addressing their mental health needs.
Dates Coming Soon...
Team Training (£850 per Team)
Build Capacity to Support Dads' Mental Health
This tailored half-day training is designed to address the unique challenges and needs of your team/organisation. We’ll explore the complexities of paternal mental health, offering evidence-based insights, practical strategies, and real-world examples that are relevant to your specific context. By the end of the session, your team will leave with actionable takeaways that can be immediately applied to improve outcomes for the families and fathers you work with.
What You’ll Learn: Practical strategies tailored to your organisation’s needs, including the latest on paternal mental health, signs of depression and anxiety, supporting dads, overcoming engagement barriers, and adapting practices to improve service delivery.
Ideal For: Teams or organisations looking to strengthen their capacity to support dads by addressing paternal mental health challenges with tailored, evidence-based strategies and practical solutions.