When was the last time you truly asked a new dad how he’s doing? Not how the baby sleeps, not how mom is coping, but how he really feels.

Because while we often picture fathers as the steady anchor while mothers weather the storm, research shows that paternal postpartum depression, also known as postnatal depression in dads, is far more common than we think.

In fact, 1 in 10 men experience what’s sometimes called male postpartum depression or PPD in men, a reality that still hides behind workaholism, irritability, silence, or anger.

Can men get postpartum depression?

The answer is YES. They can and they do.

This episode of The Parenthood and Relationship Podcast lifts the silence on that truth, revealing the emotional, biological, and relational layers that make fatherhood depression one of the most misunderstood aspects of parenthood.

Through two powerful stories of real fathers, we explore what postpartum depression in men looks like beyond stereotypes, and how its symptoms often go unnoticed.

It doesn’t always appear as sadness; sometimes it’s snapping at small things, zoning out, or working until midnight.

Sometimes it’s feeling like you’re failing at the one role you’ve always wanted to get right, being a good dad.

Together we discuss the hidden factors that contribute to paternal postpartum depression and fatherhood anxiety, from hormonal changes and identity loss to sleep deprivation and inherited emotional silence.

You’ll discover how these forces create a perfect storm: biological shifts that drain motivation, cultural scripts that glorify stoicism, and emotional contagion when both partners are struggling in silence.

This isn’t about comparing pain between mothers and fathers. It’s about completing the picture, because when we include fathers in the conversation, the entire family begins to heal.

Supporting dads doesn’t take empathy away from mothers; it multiplies it.

Today we explore:

1. Why paternal postpartum depression often hides behind anger, overworking, or withdrawal.
2. How hormonal changes, identity loss, and sleep deprivation combine to create fatherhood depression.
3. What partners can do to rebuild connection and share the mental load when one parent struggles.
4. The deeper truth: Supporting fathers isn’t dividing empathy. It’s multiplying it for everyone.

When fathers’ mental health is supported, children thrive, couples reconnect, and society begins to redefine what strength truly means.

You’ll walk away from this episode knowing how to recognize the signs, open up a conversation, and start the healing process, together.

If you or someone you love is navigating early parenthood, this conversation is an invitation to see beyond the surface - to see the man behind the mask. Because postnatal depression in men isn’t weakness; it’s the body and mind’s way of saying, “I need care too.”

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Download these resources I mentioned

👉 Reconnect Roadmap for Men

👉 The Sunday Reconnect

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Markella Kaplani, M.A. Clinical-Counseling Psychologist Parenthood & Relationship Coach www.markellakaplani.com