Overview

• Swansea University’s analysis of Wales records from 2002 to 2021 produced the first UK population-level rate for paternal suicide in the perinatal period.
• During the first 1,001 days after birth, 107 fathers died by suicide compared with 16 mothers, equating to roughly seven times as many fathers.
• Researchers reported higher risk among first-time fathers and those living in more deprived areas.
• Study authors and campaigners urged inclusion of fathers in specialist perinatal mental health services, which currently focus on mothers.
• Dame Andrea Leadsom launched the 1001 Critical Days Foundation and awarded £1 million to Home-Start UK to scale the Dad Matters programme nationally, while urging UK-wide routine measurement since only Wales records child age at paternal suicide.