Postpartum depression is usually talked about as something that happens to mothers. A new study of more than 42,000 fathers in Denmark, published September 3, 2026, in the American Journal of Epidemiology, adds to the evidence that dads can develop it too, and shows how easy it is for fathers to slip through the cracks.
What the Study Found
Denmark offers postpartum depression screening to fathers as well as mothers in many municipalities. Researchers at Aarhus University used screening results from 67 of the country’s 98 municipalities between 2015 and 2021 and linked them to national health registers.
- The cohort included 42,680 fathers and 46,174 births, the largest study of its kind to include fathers.
- 3.29% of fathers screened positive on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.
- 2.69% had a recorded diagnosis of postpartum depression.
- Only 0.49% had both a positive screen and a diagnosis.
Screening and Diagnosis Caught Different Dads
That last number is the striking one. If screening and diagnosis were identifying the same fathers, most of those with a diagnosis would also have screened positive. Instead, the two groups barely overlapped. The study was not designed to explain why, but it suggests that relying on either a questionnaire or a doctor’s diagnosis alone will miss many fathers who are struggling.
It also fits with what is known about how depression can look in men. Fathers may be more likely to show irritability, anger, withdrawal, working long hours or drinking more, rather than sadness, which a standard questionnaire may not fully capture. See postpartum depression in men for signs to watch for.
Why the Numbers Are Lower Than Other Estimates
You may have seen much higher figures for fathers. A widely cited 2010 meta-analysis in JAMA estimated that about 10% of fathers experience depression between the first trimester and a year after birth. The Danish figures are lower for several reasons:
- Studies measure different time windows and use different cutoffs.
- Denmark’s health system, parental leave and social supports differ from those in the U.S.
- The main goal of this study was to check whether fathers who took part were representative, not to produce a definitive rate. The authors found they generally were, except that fathers of non-Danish origin were markedly underrepresented.
So these numbers should not be read as the U.S. rate. What carries over is the lesson that fathers need to be asked, and asked in more than one way.
Why Fathers’ Mental Health Matters
A father’s depression affects the whole family, and depression in one parent raises the chance of depression in the other. If your partner is being treated for postpartum depression, it is worth checking in on your own mental health too. See support for partners.
What Dads Can Do
- Take a screening questionnaire, such as the EPDS or PHQ-9. It takes a few minutes.
- Talk to your own doctor, not just your partner’s care team. Your primary care doctor can assess depression and start treatment.
- Notice changes beyond sadness, like anger, numbness, pulling away, drinking more or losing interest in things you used to enjoy.
- Know that treatment works, including therapy and medication.
Find a therapist who works with new fathers
The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline, 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262), also supports partners and family members. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988.
Sources
- Bæk CT, Munk-Olsen T, Mægbæk ML, Madsen KB, Egsgaard S, Zacher Kjeldsen MM. “Postpartum depression in fathers: prevalence and evaluation of selection bias in the HOPE cohort.” American Journal of Epidemiology. 2026;195(9):2450-2457. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwag133.
- Paulson JF, Bazemore SD. “Prenatal and postpartum depression in fathers and its association with maternal depression: a meta-analysis.” JAMA. 2010;303(19):1961-1969. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2010.605.