Ford offers support to new dads

Ford is offering paternity workshops after research found that up to a quarter of men suffer postnatal depression.

The workshops enable employees to share their experiences and fears as they prepare for parenthood, as part of the company’s broader occupational health strategy to provide a range of mental health and psychological services, as well as resilience and stress management training.

What began as an information session on parenting policies has now expanded to include the psychological aspects of becoming a dad, how to support one’s partner and how to build a family support network. Expectant fathers are informed about postnatal depression and how best to cope with mental health issues. Those running the program are certified mental health first aid trainers and will soon support parents with one-to-one counselling to discuss their concerns and anxieties.

Lara Nicoll, manager, diversity and inclusion, Ford of Britain, said, ‘Many new dads have no idea that men suffer from postnatal depression. There is a tendency to bottle up emotions, stay silent or simply withdraw into themselves, to the point their work and family life suffer beyond repair.

‘Creating an environment where men can talk openly about their anxiety enables them to feel less isolated and become the dads they want to be.’

Ford’s paternity workshops take place three times a year and are part of the company’s gender and diversity strategy. In the UK, a 24-hour helpline enables employees to seek assistance for their mental health issues. Parents and parents-to-be in the UK and Germany can also seek assistance from the Ford Parent Network, an open forum for parents to share advice and information.