LONGVIEW, Texas (KLTV) – Many dads would agree that fatherhood can be challenging.
Roughly 10% of fathers experience postpartum depression, and 75% report feelings of loneliness and isolation, according to the American Heart Organization.
And when it comes to men’s mental health — especially fathers’ — some experts say these numbers aren’t talked about enough.
“It was so new to me. I’ve never had a session like this before,” Cyril Bradford, an event attendee, said.
Fatherhood and mental health
“Dads play such an important role,” Kevin Pineda, Buckner fatherhood specialist, said.
These two go hand in hand with a family’s quality and stability.
“The father is really important in the home,” Pineda said. “Right now in the U.S. one in four children comes from a fatherless home. And 85% of men and women who are incarcerated came from a fatherless home.”
On Saturday, Buckner Children and Family Services held a mental health event for dads.
“Regardless of the culture that’s around you or maybe there are stigmas towards getting help…push through those boundaries,” Pineda said. “Men need to have community around them. They need to have someone to talk to. And it just completely drastically changes the man’s mental health when he has someone to talk to.”
That’s why fathers like Cyril Bradford joined the conversation.
“When you have kids that you’re supposed to be this role model for, I’m definitely up to hearing someone talk about that,” Bradford said. “We, men, are supposed to be that for our children. And the mothers are supposed to be that too.”
Fatherhood pressures include having the right job, being emotionally involved and understanding child development.
The presentation emphasized where communication problems can begin for men — as far back as their own childhood.
“And that could be because of what they heard growing up,” Pineda said.
“Messages that young boys receive from their parents is: ‘toughen up, be a man, boys don’t cry…’ It teaches the child to suppress their emotions. Often what you see in older men that are unable to emotionally connect with their families is because of that suppressed habit of emotions they learned from a young age.”
Bradford said he’s applying what he learned today for this family.
“I’m taking this stuff to the house. It’s best to strengthen your emotional sense,” Bradford said. “Once they see you have that change in you — it’ll open doors. God will open doors and you’ll have everybody open their arms to you. That’s what I really got.”
It’s recommended that men describe their emotions to their loved ones rather than working through them alone.
Buckner offers therapy sessions, family-oriented activities and community-centered outreach.
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