News Article

DADS AND POST NATAL DEPRESSION: HOW DO WEBSITES SCORE?

GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE FATHER-INCLUSIVE LEVEL OF WEB-BASED
INFORMATION AND SUPPORT FOR FATHERS IN FAMILIES WITH POSTNATAL DEPRESSION
(PND)
PREPARED BY RICHARD FLETCHER | FAMILY ACTION CENTRE, FACULTY OF HEALTH, THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE | CONVENOR, AUSTRALIAN FATHERHOOD RESEARCH NETWORK
FOR A FULL REPORT WITH A DETAILED ASSESSMENT OF EACH WEBSITE GO TO
WWW.NEWCASTLE.EDU.AU/RESEARCH-CENTRE/FAC/RESEARCH/FATHERS/AFRN.HTML

One in every seven mothers suffers from depression after the birth of a child. That meansthat approximately one in seven fathers have a new baby, a wife or partner who is miserable, and very little support. In Australia there are no dedicated programs or services for fathers who have a partner with depression.

The internet offers a low-cost source of information and support to fathers in these families. The guidelines below can assist professionals to judge the probable effectiveness of a website in meeting the needs of fathers in new families where the mother is suffering from depression and where the father may be at risk of depression.

GUIDELINES FOR WEBSITES TO BE FATHER-INCLUSIVE

1. FATHER-SPECIFIC
The web material should relate specifically to fathers whose wives or partners may be depressed *

2. IMPORTANT AREAS OF FATHER'S ROLE ARE ADDRESSED
The web material should address the father-mother relationship, the father infant relationship and the father's own well being *

3. OPPORTUNITIES ARE PROVIDED FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND
INTERACTION
The web material should include interactive options, extended information and 'real life' examples *

(4 pages)

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