India, April 24 -- Childhood is one of the most important phases in life, and children generally pick up on the behaviours and emotions of their caregivers. This is why experts highlight the importance of mental wellbeing in caregivers, as it can deeply influence a child's behavioural development. However, much of the focus has been on maternal mental health during early childhood, like postpartum depression and its effects on the child. But what about the father?

A study published on January 30, 2025, in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine shifts the focus to fathers' mental wellbeing. It found that when fathers experience depression as their children begin kindergarten. This, in turn, affects the child's behaviour a few years l...