Posted on: 7 May 2020
West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership has today announced the roll-out of a free new app for new dads and fathers-to-be. DadPad® is an information pack in digital form developed by dads to help fathers of all ages prepare for family life at a time when access to parental education classes and midwife appointments has been curtailed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
DadPad® is packed with relevant information, as well as details on local support groups and service providers. Its aim is to provide new fathers with guidance on how to develop the mindset, confidence and practical skills needed to meet their babies’ physical and emotional needs.
Building a strong attachment not only enables dads to better enjoy their new role but also contributes towards positive long-term social, health and educational outcomes for their babies. Crucially, the app also provides dads with guidance on how to support and seek help for their partners and themselves as they adjust to their new roles, and cope with the physical and emotional strains that this can place on individuals and relationships.
Mental health problems during pregnancy and in the period following the birth of a baby affect one in five women and can include anxiety, depression or more severe illness like post-partum psychosis and without treatment can have a devastating effect on families. Suicide is the second leading cause of maternal death and perinatal mental illness can also affect the health and wellbeing of infants and children. A sense of anxiety for new dads is also common and fathers can become depressed, particularly where partners suffer from perinatal mental health problems or where they feel unable to cope.
Dr Sara Munro, chief executive, Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and leader of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism programme said:
“Evidence-based research demonstrates that positive parenting by fathers has a significant impact on the family dynamic and now more than ever it is important that parents have access to information that they need quickly and easily.
“This app enables new fathers to find information on their hand-held devices and gives them the opportunity to record and store any questions they have. These can be saved and discussed later when talking with their baby’s mum, family, friends, or their health professional. We expect that it will enable new dads to play an active role in helping improve the health and wellbeing outcomes of women, children and families.”
Julian Bose, creator of DadPad® said:
“The DadPad was created because babies don’t come with a set of instructions, and dads told us that there was important information that they wanted to be given on what to expect and how to care for their baby. We listened to what dads, their partners and health professionals asked for and combined it all in the DadPad.
“With technology playing such a big part in everyone’s lives today, developing an app seemed an obvious step. This has opened up a world of possibilities in delivering content and features and, crucially, getting updates and news out to dads quickly and easily.
“We are delighted to be partnering with the team at West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health & Care Partnership to launching their DadPad app for dads-to-be and new dads in the West Yorkshire and Harrogate area.”
Watch this short video to hear what a new dad and a support worker have to say about DadPad.