5 Tips for A New Father’s Mental Health

By Jonathan Reiss, MSW, RSW, Paternal Mental Health Therapist and Father

1. Be On Guard - You can get postpartum depression too.
About 1 in 10 dads experience it—but many more go undiagnosed. If your partner is struggling, your risk doubles. Feeling withdrawn, irritable, anxious, or overwhelmed? That’s not just stress—it might be something deeper.

2. It doesn’t always look like sadness.
For new dads, postpartum mental health challenges often show up as anger, withdrawal, risky behavior, or numbing out with work or substances. Those are the things we like to hide or deny, so it's easy to miss or dismiss—but the impact is real.

3. Your mental health shapes your family.
Ignoring your well-being doesn’t just hurt you. It can affect your relationship, your child’s development, and the emotional tone of your entire home. Your presence matters, emotionally as much as physically.

4. Not asking for help doesn’t make you stronger.
We’re often taught to tough it out, but the truth is: support makes you a better father. Alpha wolves don’t hunt alone, and neither should you. Therapy, support groups, even just a good conversation with your partner can make a huge difference.

5. You’re not alone—and you deserve care, too.
The system often forgets to check in on dads, but that doesn’t mean you don’t matter or there isn’t anything wrong. Don’t wait until you’re at your breaking point. Your mental health isn’t selfish—it’s essential.

New fatherhood is hard. You don’t have to do it alone.

To work with registered social worker Jonathan Reiss or another Well Parents therapist, reach out to us HERE.

Expecting and new fathers can also check out The Father’s Mental Heath Network.