Annabelle Timset: We’ve been ignoring the problem of dads and depression for decades—at a huge cost to kids

Just as dads who take an active role in their children’s lives can help kids reach their full potential, less engaged dads can harm their kids’ development. In some cases, the underlying cause of that lack of engagement may be undiagnosed depression. Depressed dads are more likely to spank their kids. They’re also less likely to read to them, which may hamper their child’s cognitive development and literacy skills. And prior studies have shown that the children of depressed fathers have an increased risk for depression during adolescence. That’s why it’s so important to keep a close eye on fathers’ mental health.

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