Black Men’s Mental Health: From Pregnancy to Fatherhood: Perinatal & Community Mental Health Lens

Black men’s mental health in the perinatal period is often invisible yet deeply impacted. From the moment a pregnancy is announced through postpartum and early fatherhood, Black men carry emotional, financial, relational, and societal pressures that deserve acknowledgment and support.

1. During Pregnancy: The Silent Weight

Emotional Stressors

• Fear about maternal and infant health outcomes (especially given disparities in Black maternal mortality)

• Anxiety about financial stability and provision

• Relationship changes and shifting roles

• Feeling excluded from prenatal spaces

Systemic racism, healthcare mistrust, and historical trauma also amplify stress responses.

Mental Health Impacts

• Increased anxiety

• Depressive symptoms

• Sleep disturbance

• Irritability and emotional withdrawal

• Pressure to “stay strong” and not show vulnerability

Black men are often socialized to suppress distress, which can mask perinatal depression.

2. Birth & Postpartum: Adjustment and Identity Shift

The postpartum period is not just an adjustment for mothers.

Common Challenges

• Witnessing traumatic births

• Feeling helpless in medical settings

• Balancing work demands with family responsibilities

• Financial strain

• Changes in intimacy and connection

• Sleep deprivation

Research shows fathers can experience paternal postpartum depression, particularly when:

• Their partner is experiencing postpartum depression

• There is limited social support

• There are economic stressors

3. Unique Stressors for Black Fathers

Structural & Cultural Pressures

• Stereotypes about Black fatherhood

• Over-policing and criminalization stress

• Workplace discrimination

• Lack of culturally responsive mental health care

• Pressure to be hyper-resilient

The “strong Black man” narrative can prevent help-seeking and emotional expression.

4. Signs of Mental Health Struggles in Black Men

Because symptoms may look different, we must broaden our lens:

• Increased irritability or anger

• Emotional numbness

• Overworking

• Withdrawal from partner or baby

• Substance use

• Risk-taking behaviors

• Physical complaints (headaches, body tension)

Depression in men is often externalized rather than tearful.

5. Protective Factors & Healing Pathways

Individual Level

• Emotional literacy (naming feelings)

• Faith-based support

• Culturally competent therapy

• Fatherhood groups

• Journaling or structured reflection

Relational Level

• Intentional partner communication

• Co-parenting preparation during pregnancy

• Including fathers in prenatal visits

• Normalizing mental health check-ins

Community Level

• Black-led fatherhood initiatives

• Church-based mental health conversations

• Perinatal mental health screening for fathers

• Trauma-informed care in OB and pediatric settings

6. What Support Should Look Like

• Screening fathers for depression and anxiety during pediatric visits

• Creating father-inclusive prenatal education

• Addressing food and housing insecurity as mental health issues

• Normalizing therapy as a strength, not a weakness

• Building safe spaces for Black men to process stress without judgment

7. Reframing the Narrative

Black men are not absent — many are overwhelmed, unsupported, and unseen.

From pregnancy to fatherhood:

• They are protectors navigating vulnerability.

• They are providers managing pressure.

• They are partners adjusting to change.

• They are fathers learning emotional presence in a world that often denies them softness.

Mental health support for Black men in the perinatal space is not optional — it is preventative, protective, and generational.

Kesha Nelson, PhD, MSN/Ed, RN, APRN-CNP, PMHNP-BC, ADHD-CCSP

Director of Mental Health – BLACK BERRY & JUICE

The BLACK Collaborative Inc.