Putting paternal mental health in the spotlight

by Emily Seling, University of Kent

edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Andrew Zinin

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The mental health of fathers and partners can be overlooked during the transition to parenthood, yet depression and anxiety are twice as common among expecting and new fathers as global estimates for men. Through her research at the Centre for Health Services Studies (CHSS), Dr. Sharin Baldwin is building evidence to better support fathers' mental health and inform national research on family health and well-being.

An honorary research fellow in CHSS and senior health visiting research lead at the Institute of Health Visiting (iHV), Baldwin is one of the U.K.'s leading researchers in paternal mental health. She conducted a mixed-methods systematic review of community-based interventions to promote paternal mental wellbeing and prevent poor mental health during the perinatal period, which brought together international evidence on approaches to supporting fathers during the transition to parenthood. The findings are published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health.

Alongside her work at CHSS, Baldwin's wider program of research focuses on fathers' mental health and well-being during the perinatal period. Her Ph.D. research, The New Dad Study, explored first-time fathers' experiences of mental health and well-being during pregnancy and early parenthood. Findings from this study informed "Invisible," a short film co-produced with fathers and partners to raise awareness of paternal mental health and encourage professionals to better recognize and respond to fathers' needs.

"At least one in 10 men experiences mental health problems during the perinatal period, yet fathers' needs are often overlooked. 'Invisible' follows a new dad named Luke, whose story is based on my research findings and extensive interviews with a diverse range of fathers. It's designed to be a thought-provoking portrayal of why fathers' mental health matters, which we hope will spark conversations that encourage professionals to recognize, understand and respond more effectively to fathers' mental health needs."

As an honorary member of the CHSS team at Kent, Baldwin is part of a growing cohort of practitioner-researchers—health and social care professionals who have transitioned from front-line practice into research careers. A trained nurse, midwife and health visitor, she has over 28 years of NHS experience, including senior leadership, professional development and clinical academic roles.

Baldwin said, "CHSS has played a pivotal role in my development as a clinical academic researcher. The mentorship, encouragement and opportunities I received through the Centre, particularly from professor Sally Kendall and colleagues, enabled me to build on my doctoral research. The support provided by CHSS has helped me develop an independent program of research that is influencing policy, practice and education, while maintaining a strong focus on improving outcomes for parents and families."

Building on her previous work in CHSS, Baldwin is now chief investigator for a national study, jointly hosted by the University of Kent and the Institute of Health Visiting, evaluating the Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Home-visiting (MECSH) home visiting program for parents in England, particularly how it addresses issues of equity in access, engagement, retention, and outcomes for Black and Asian minority ethnic parents.

Publication details

Sharin Baldwin et al., Community-based interventions to promote paternal mental wellbeing and prevent poor mental health during the perinatal period: a mixed methods systematic review, Frontiers in Public Health (2026). DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1823143

Journal information: Frontiers in Public Health

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PsychiatryPsychology & Mental healthReproductive healthPregnancy Provided by University of Kent Who's behind this story?

Gaby Clark

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