Depression and anxiety in parents

Understanding Depression and Anxiety in Parents

It is common for some parents/carers to experience depression and anxiety. On average, 1 in 5 mums and 1 in 10 dads experience postnatal depression and anxiety. These feelings can happen during pregnancy or after having your child. Many parents/carers do not get support because they might feel embarrassed or ashamed, but it's important to get help. Getting support early can make a big difference for you and your child, allowing you to enjoy being a parent and to feel healthy and well.

Taking care of yourself is key to taking care of your child. Here are some ways to look after your mental health:

• Take time for yourself
• Share how you're feeling
• Rest when you can
• Eat healthy foods
• Exercise
• Accept help from others
• Reach out for support

Signs of anxiety

It's normal to feel stressed or anxious sometimes, but if you have these feelings all the time, it’s important to get support.

Some of these feelings can be:

• Constant worrying thoughts
• Irritable 
• Hard to fall asleep
• Fear or worry about leaving the house
• Worry about your child’s health
• Panic attacks
• Tight chest or your heart beats fast 

Signs of depression

Depression can look different for each parent, but these signs are common:

• Feeling sad or hopeless
• Changes in sleep or appetite
• Feeling like you’re not doing a good job
• Feeling isolated or alone
• Not feeling connected to your child
• Feeling like something bad will happen to your baby
• Feeling tired all the time
• Feeling you can’t relax
• No longer enjoying things you used to
• Not wanting to go out 
• Harmful thoughts
• Wanting to go away

Getting help

If you think you may be feeling depressed or anxious, it’s important to get help early. Getting support early will help, this includes:

• Feeling better sooner: Getting help early helps you recover faster.
• Better family relationships: When you feel healthy and well, your family life feels happier and stronger 
• Enjoy being a parent When you feel well, you will enjoy your parenting role more 
• Enjoy new experiences: When you feel better, you can more fully engage in activities and experiences.
• Preventing bigger problems: Getting support reduces the risk of developing more serious mental health issues.

Getting help early on can make a significant difference to your well-being and your family’s happiness.