Men too, suffer postpartum depression, health experts warn

Postpartum Depression (PPD) is a type of depression and stress that some women experience after giving birth.  Statistics show that one out of 10 women are affected by the problem after the birth of the newborn.

According to the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH), there are several causes of postpartum depression in women, including a stressful life event during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth, the death of a loved one, domestic violence, or personal illness.

Medical complications during childbirth, including premature delivery or having a baby with medical problems, mixed feelings about the pregnancy, whether it was planned or unplanned, lack of strong emotional support from the spouse, partner, family, or friends and alcohol or other drug abuse problems.

Experts also warn that cases of postpartum depression are now becoming rampant among men.

The Meta Organisation's 2019 study highlighted the prevalence of postpartum depression among men, emphasizing that the issue affects fathers particularly when the baby reaches three to six months of age.

Experts, including psychiatrist Scott Bea and the Union of Paediatricians in the United States, emphasize the importance of recognizing and addressing postpartum depression in both parents, irrespective of gender.

This condition in men can be triggered by feelings of isolation, shifts in attention as the spouse focuses on the newborn, the birth of a child with special needs, and the overall adjustment to fatherhood.

Ibrahim Kennedy separated from his wife when their child was only six months old, and he was left behind to take care of the young one.

Kennedy found himself a single father during the tumultuous times of the Covid-19 pandemic, grappling with unemployment and the responsibilities of caring for his infant son.

“It was during the Covid-19 pandemic period. My employment came to a sudden end and my wife left immediately saying she cannot live with someone who does not have a job,” Kennedy explained.

He added, “I was not used to the tasks of raising a child, furthermore, this was a six-month-old baby who was still breastfeeding. Several thoughts crossed my mind, I thought of committing suicide, killing the baby, or just taking the baby to my parents.”

Kennedy says he had to carry his six-month-old son around as he searched for menial jobs, but he was denied most opportunities because of the baby.

“Whenever I managed to get a place to work, I would place him in a safe place with the toys to play with as I did my job. However, I would occasionally be checking on the young boy to ensure that he is fed and sleeps well,” he narrated.

Similarly, Salim Juma was left with a very young child after his wife got employment in Saudi Arabia.

He experienced a sudden shift in his role when his wife took employment abroad, requiring him to navigate the complexities of both motherhood and fatherhood.

“I used to arrive home late in the evening after having a good time with friends, but when my wife left, I got really confused. I was the mother and the father of the house,” he said.

He added, “Immediately after leaving work, I would pass through a vegetable kiosk to buy food and hurry home to cook before my son could sleep at 7 pm.”

According to Salim, it was hectic especially the nights that his child would cry all through.

He thought of giving out his child or taking him to an orphanage home.

“I thought about giving out a child to a woman who might need one or taking him to an orphanage home. However, I discarded that thought because I was also raised in an orphanage home, and I thought it wouldn’t be right to subject my son to such an environment,” said Salim.

He backtracked in that thought and continued raising his son with the help of neighbours. However, he opines single parenthood, more so for men is no mean task.

Real-life stories, such as that of Kennedy and Juma sheds light on the challenges men face during postpartum depression.

Neema Araka, a psychiatrist, says postpartum depression manifest through symptoms like sleep deprivation, which negatively impacts their physical and mental health, and influences daily interactions and work performance.

“This kind of depression affects his thinking, emotions, behaviour and the way he interacts with other people. He is always angry, he looks confused, he can have so many unnecessary disagreements with his peers,” says Dr. Araka.

Dr. Araka says despite the increasing acknowledgement of postpartum depression among men, research on this issue in Africa is still in progress.

Many men suffer in silence, seeking solace online without knowing where to find professional help.

“Most men turn to Google whenever they have a problem. The men suffer in silence and do not know where to get help,” says Dr. Araka.

Treatment for postpartum depression includes counselling, medication, or a combination of both, along with essential support from family and friends. The journey to recovery requires self-discipline, self-control, and maturity to confront the challenges head-on.

“I was hurt mentally and physically because I was heartbroken. It took me two years to recover. You must have self-discipline, and self-control and be mature enough to face these challenges. I thank God very much, I know that there are many men at this time who are going through similar situations, and I encourage them to be firm,” said Kennedy.

In Kenya, there is still a huge number of women who suffer postpartum depression with statistics from the Ministry of Health indicating that 15 out of 100 women are likely to be affected after the birth of their young ones.

Marion Aluoch, a young mother, experienced this depression which led her to start hating her baby.

“Staring myself in the mirror, I used to see my body was damaged and I didn’t like it. I hated my child because I believed she was the cause of my body change. Many times this child would cry at night, I breastfed her and tried to put her to sleep but all in vain. It was very difficult for me,” said Aluoch.

The exact causes of depression are not fully understood, doctors say it is a combination of hormonal changes, psychological factors, and social elements that contribute to postpartum depression in women, often affecting those under the age of 25.

 Dr. Saudah Farooqui, a gynaecologist from Nairobi,  says in women - after giving birth,  hormones called estrogen and progesterone are released that make the woman start feeling tired, lazy and sad.

“Now these hormones can cause postpartum problems, you can feel anxiety, insomnia, hating the baby, refusing to breastfeed the baby. Sometimes some women do not even want to stare at the face of their babies feeling the baby isn’t theirs,” says Dr. Farooqui.

Treatment options include psychiatric intervention, counselling, medication, and massage therapy.

In conclusion, breaking the silence around postpartum depression in men and women is crucial.

Health experts recommend open communication about feelings and encourage seeking support from spouses, friends, or professionals without fear of judgment.