Men's postnatal depression is something that is not commonly known about but it occurs just as much as it does in women, according to a Busselton psychologist.
Keith Mowat has researched the topic and will be joining The Man Walk in Busselton on October 12, 2020 and hopes dads new and old will join in.
Last year, Mr Mowat spoke at a symposium on postnatal depression and was asked to talk about it from a man's perspective.
"It is important not to compare it to postnatal depression in women because it is two different things, although certainly related," he said.
"For a guy's experience it seems to be about adjustment, there is a sudden change in roles especially for new dads," he said.
"It is grieving a life lost and getting used to not being able to be that version of yourself and trying to become this new version of yourself."
Mr Mowat said one of the problems was that gender roles had shifted rapidly over the last few generations which could cause confusion, problems with adjustment and psychological distress.
"One of the cultural shifts has gone from expectations for a dad to be a moral teacher, which shifted towards them being a provider and bread winner," Mr Mowat said.
"Now the dominate culture thing is an expectation for a dad to be a nurturing co-parent, which is quite different from the other two.
"One of the problems is, especially when children are being breastfed, is an expectation dads would be involved from day one and how that experience will be.
"In reality, they might feel like they have been pushed aside, they do not know what to do and feel redundant or useless."
Mr Mowat said for anyone moving into parenthood, the expectation and reality produced a massive gap.
"Knowing some simple dos and don'ts can be useful," he said.
"Parenthood is a sudden and brutal change in your life, sometimes it is a sink or swim type scenario.
"There is also competition from older roles about being a provider, the detached dad was the kind of way to be a dad before.
"There is a lot of censorship about being a parent, especially with newborns.
"There is an expectation to be doing well and enjoying it but for most people the reality is quite far removed from enjoying parenting you see in movies and whatnot.
"There is a taboo around saying some of the more brutal things you may be feeling, like hating the whole thing or resenting your child.
"That kind of censorship is a problem because people do not feel free to be honest, it is difficult thing to say."
