Caring for a partner when they are not well can be stressful and sometimes lonely. Hear real stories from dads who coped with their partner’s perinatal mental health issues and how they got through it.
"My wife couldn't answer properly and I had no choice but to leave her in hospital to get better. All of a sudden people were asking me everything." It’s a steep learning curve looking after baby 24/7. It’s ok to ask for help.
Transcript: Left holding the baby
"I felt angry constantly ... I felt really isolated from Alisha and the baby, our son." Sometimes coping with everything can get on top of us. Listen to why it’s important to look after your own wellbeing.
Transcript: Finding it hard to cope
"The midwives have taught me ways to support her without trying to fix her ... things can get better but getting better doesn't have a time limit." Getting counselling and working together helped for this dad with his first child. Now he has three.
Transcript: Supporting not fixing
Do you ever wish you could know what your baby is thinking? Hear first hand how important infant-father relationships are and what you can do to better bond with your baby.
Transcript: Hey Dad
"She never felt she was getting the hang of it. It just didn't get better." Making choices about hospital admissions can be really tough, especially if the baby can't be admitted as well. It can feel like letting our partner down even when it’s for the best.
Transcript: When your partner needs hospital care
"I felt like it was up to me to fix it but I couldn't. We needed help." Looking after you partner and your baby can be hard work. Hear one dad talk about the pressure he felt to hold it all together, when his partner was unwell, and how he managed.
Transcript: Holding it all together
Hear one family's journey through perinatal mental illness from the dad's perspective.
Although this resource is aimed at dads, the information is helpful for all new parents and carers regardless of gender, who are coping with perinatal mental illness.
