Help-seeking in perinatal fathers: a scoping review of needs, barriers, facilitators, and access to support.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Fathers' contributions to child development are widely recognized, yet perinatal mental health research and care remain focused on mothers. Despite evidence of paternal emotional and mental health concerns, fathers' help-seeking behaviors are understudied. This scoping review applies the information-processing model of help-seeking to map literature on factors influencing the help-seeking process among fathers in the perinatal period in relation to emotional and mental health concerns, and the associated barriers and facilitators.

Methods

Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, six databases were searched for studies published up to June 2025. Eligible studies examined fathers' help-seeking behaviors in the perinatal period (from conception up to 12 months after giving b

SUBMITTER: Mancinelli E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12494583 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature