“I Had to Figure It Out Alone”: A Qualitative Exploration of Fathers’ Experiences, Unmet Support Needs, and Digital Intervention Preferences during Early Fatherhood in Canada
Résumé fourni par la source
Background: Fathers experience elevated rates of mental health concerns during the transition to parenthood, putting children at risk for adverse outcomes. Yet father-specific mental health supports are limited. Efforts to provide tailored supports are needed, including patient-oriented approaches that can improve future treatment adherence, better meet fathers’ needs, and support clinical uptake. Methods: This qualitative study examined the unmet mental health and parenting needs of Canadian fathers with young children (0-3 years old). Eligible participants had past or current lived experience of mental health challenges and/or parenting stress since becoming a parent. Fathers (N=17) from across Canada participated in one of three cohorts. Each cohort completed a six-session virtual focus group series to explore fathers’ experiences of mental health, service use, barriers to support, and preferences for tailored eHealth interventions. Focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed; written surveys after each session were incorporated into the qualitative analysis. All data was analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Six main themes included limited access and barriers to services, primary unmet support needs, fathers’ mental health, father involvement in the family, mental health service/information experiences, and eHealth intervention needs. Key unmet needs included feeling prepared for fatherhood, managing emotion dysregulation and physical well-being, connecting with peers, accessing tailored mental health and parenting support, and finding affordable childcare. Fathers reported a strong interest in eHealth (app-based) supports with opportunities for peer connection, flexible delivery formats, and access to expert guidance. Conclusions: Findings highlight a significant gap between fathers’ support needs and available services for mental health. This study contributes to ongoing efforts to enhance men’s mental health, reduce stigma, and strengthen early intervention efforts during the transition to fatherhood.
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