Mental Health Book Club: Daddy Blues: Postnatal Depression and Fatherhood

Overall Rating:

The Mental Health Book Club Podcast hosts Becky and Sydney both gave this book 3*.

The book is a frank and honest account of a man’s struggle with his mental health after the birth of his child.  It discusses the traumatic birth of his son and his wife’s struggles with her own depression.

Being women without children, we did not feel we were Mark’s primary audience and so we felt a little detached from the topic. However, we could see that this book has to anyone in a similar situation and will provide hope that it can get better. Anyone who has had a child will see some experiences they can relate to.

Being a parent is hard and it changes so much, this book explores this with a raw honesty that is rare amongst parents. Often parents are expected to be happy as they have a new child, but this book shows some of the darker times that can be had.

Not only does this book address men’s mental health but also it raises the profile of an almost unheard of mental health illness, postnatal depression in men. The book also touches on the use of alcohol to self-medicate when depressed.

We had no idea men could get postnatal depression and this book raises awareness and shows how Mark goes on to help other men that are suffering. His dedication is an inspiration.

Find our full review on our podcast at www.mentalhealthbookclub.com, iTunes or where ever you get your podcasts.

Episode 80 – Daddy Blues: Postnatal Depression and Fatherhood by Mark Williams

Find our more at: www.mentalhealthbookclub.com

Trigger warning: this podcast discusses male post natal depression.

Find Mark Williams online at:

Twitter

Website

Get the book here

If you feel suicidal call 999 immediately.

If you need to talk you can contact:

Samaritans on:

Mental Health Resources:

Rethink Mental Illness

Mind The Mental Health Charity

  • Infoline: 0300 123 3393 (Our lines are open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays)
  • Text: 86463
  • http://bit.ly/2p6rntK

Social Media

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Becky: @BLawrence85

Sydney: @sydney_timmins

The Secret Psychiatrist: @thesecretpsych

Podcast: @MHBC_Podcast

Facebook

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Sydney: https://www.facebook.com/Sydney-Timmins-1695774814065575/

Book 32 – Daddy Blues: Post Natal Depression and Fatherhood by Mark Williams

Mark Williams led a content life; from a working-class background, he worked his way up into a promising career and then met the love of his life. When his wife Michelle fell pregnant, it seemed as though everything had fallen into place for them.

Except Michelle’s labour didn’t go well. She was forced to undergo a C-section, an experience which deeply traumatised both of them. And when it was time to take their child home, Michelle seemed different. Gone was the woman that he had fallen in love with, replaced with someone who couldn’t pull herself out of a deep, dark depression.

But it wasn’t just Michelle who felt the baby blues. Mark too felt as though he had lost something, succumbing to feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. He had never heard of fathers going through postnatal depression, but with a baby that wouldn’t stop crying and a wife he could no longer connect with, he felt like he was losing himself more and more each day. So he found solace in old habits, and found his escape at the bottom of a bottle.

A touching story from a rarely explored perspective,Daddy Blues tells the tale of a man learning to deal with a problem he never knew he could have.

Trigger are proud to announce Theinspirationalseries partner to their innovative Pullingthetriggerrange. Theinspirationalseries promotes the idea that mental illness should be talked about freely and without fear. Find out more at www.triggerpublishing.com