#172. Dad Postpartum Depression: Why It’s Real & How to Get Help

May 21, 2026

Did you know that up to 1 in 10 new dads experience postpartum depression, but most never realize what they're going through or feel safe enough to talk about it?

As a new or expecting father, you might wrestle with overwhelming stress, shifting identities, and the silent expectation to just “tough it out”... leaving you feeling isolated and unsure if your struggles are normal or even valid. This episode gets into some important details:

• You’ll learn how to recognize the unique signs and symptoms of postpartum depression in dads.
• Discover why paternal mental health is often overlooked, the cost of ignoring it, and how it really impacts your family.
• Gain practical strategies and resources that empower you to take care of yourself, so you can show up as the dad you want to be.

Listen now and give yourself the tools to thrive in fatherhood - because support for dads starts with this honest conversation.

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If you or a dad you know is struggling, check out https://HeadsupGuys.org

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Timestamps

• 00:00 -  Introduction and overview of the podcast
• 00:40 -  Paternal postpartum depression statistics and breaking the silence
• 01:47 -  Increased risk when both parents struggle and opening thoughts
• 01:58 -  Personal story about stigma and misperceptions of paternal depression
• 04:17 -  Show sponsor mention and episode agenda
• 05:05 -  Definition of paternal postpartum depression
• 07:28 -  Causes of paternal postpartum depression: biology, psychology, lifestyle, social conditioning
• 15:03 -  Cost of ignoring paternal postpartum depression
• 16:41 -  Signs of paternal postpartum depression to watch for
• 17:37 -  What dads can do for paternal postpartum depression
• 20:24 -  Summary and key takeaways
• 21:05 -  Recommended resource: Heads Up Guys
• 21:33 -  Final thoughts and closing

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"Dad Central is a podcast that supports fathers in navigating fatherhood, reducing stress, building confidence, managing parenting stress, and improving parenting skills, including discipline, co-parenting, custody issues, calm parenting, and effective communication with children, to foster happy children and strong parent-child relationships."