Be prepared: post natal depression can strike men, too

There's no shortage of stories and information on the subject of post natal depression (PND) as it affects mothers. But where are the new dads in the equation? Suffering in silence, say an increasing number of experts who put the number of men with PND at somewhere between four and ten per cent. "I came across some alarming stories and figures when I started researching my book," says Sacha Molitorisz, author of From Here To Paternity (Pan Macmillan, $29.95) and the blog Who's Your Daddy? "That said, dads generally have been neglected when it comes to parental studies, which in itself says a lot."

Until the world catches up, here's some tips to identify and deal with the baby blues, should they come calling:

Don't be a sitting duck Use the truckload of information out there now about parenthood. The better view you have of the huge life changes wrought by children, the better you'll be able to deal with them. "Just as the notion of the Superwoman emerged in the ‘70s to describe women who wanted it all - career, relationship, children - there's a new model of the dad emerging: the Superdad, who can earn a salary, be home by bathtime, then cook a meal," explains Molitorisz. "It's just as unrealistic. No-one can do it all."

Get ready for hormone upheaval Accept that your moods will be more volatile after your child arrives - and not just because you're tired. A 2001 Canadian study revealed that some men, particularly those who spent a lot of time with their partners, experienced significant hormonal changes during the final weeks of pregnancy and immediately after the birth of their child -¬ changes which mirrored those of their partners.

Keep an eye on mum A good indicator as to whether you're vulnerable to PND is the state of your partner: if she's grappling with PND, chances are you're not far behind. "One of the big groups of men who get depressed is those with wives who get depressed," confirms University of Newcastle lecturer Richard Fletcher, who holds group sessions for men whose partners have PND.

Take the test Been feeling low for the past week? Time you took your mental pulse to see of you're sliding towards PND. "Ask yourself ‘Have I been angry a lot lately?'," recommends Fletcher. "Have you really been bumping up the work hours? Are you drinking more? For men, those seem to be signs that they're stuck and aren't coping. Or rather, that that's way they're coping." What then? "Employ the same strategies used for depression generally, including physical exercise and watching what you're eating," advises Nicci Blount, a support worker at the ACT's Post and Antenatal Depression Support and Information service. "The particular challenge of PND is that there's a baby to look after, so you can't just take up a sport, or get a lot of rest."