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Starting a family is a major life moment.
Sometimes feelings of elation and excitement can be mixed with negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, and self-doubts.
“These feelings are often unexpected and can be extremely challenging, but they are not unusual,” says Charlotte Gentry, Founder of The IVF Network.
Around one in five women experience mental health problems, most commonly depression or anxiety, during pregnancy or shortly after birth, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Triggers can include pregnancy complications, worries about changing relationships, anxiety that something will go wrong during pregnancy, fear of childbirth and feelings of inadequacy around parenting.
Also, researchers found almost one in ten men experience anxiety or depression during their partner’s pregnancy.
“Many question the validity of their feelings, or want to prioritise the needs of their partner, so these mental health issues often go undiagnosed,” adds Gentry.
“Men are also less likely to express how they feel so keep their emotions bottled up which isn’t healthy.”
Infertility can also negatively impact mental health.
According to a study of women attending an infertility clinic, 40% of women had been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or both.
Around one in five men also experience anxiety and 17% struggle with depression.
Furthermore, an estimated 11 to 12% of adoptive parents experience postadoption depression (PAD), the National Council for Adoption found.
Access mental health support
“Over this period, employees may need time off or more flexible hours and benefit from being able to access wellness and mental health support,” continues Gentry.
“Having systems and policies in place to accommodate colleagues sends a clear signal that they are valued.”
There are many progressive organisations embedding family-friendly policies into the workplace.
Unicef’s Business and Family-Friendly Policies report pointed out that: “Many businesses are recognising that family-friendly policies can contribute to achieving gender equality and thus business profits, by enhancing the recruitment and retention of female employees.”
Technology giant Google, has recently enhanced benefits for UK employees, including funded IVF, elective egg freezing and support for adoption and surrogacy, because “there are many ways to have a family.”
The Unicef report also states: “For businesses competing for talent, offering better work-life balance and family-friendly policies can enhance competitiveness to attract labour.”
Three-steps to achieve family-friendly policies
“Family-friendly policies can also reinforce company values around diversity, inclusion and sustainability, which are increasingly important for both employees and customers,” concludes Gentry.
For businesses to achieve family-friendly policies, Unicef advises to:
- Implement a comprehensive approach to family-friendly policies, supported by relevant policies,
- Develop robust monitoring systems to ensure policies are effective and contribute to the wellbeing of working parents and their children,
- Champion family-friendly policies across industry standards and through supply chains.
With more people than ever needing support with starting a family, without help, it can have a significant impact on their mental health.
Businesses should support employees navigating fertility treatment and family planning while prioritising their mental health and wellbeing throughout the process.
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