Evaluating a Mental Health Digital Intervention for Dads (HealthyDads)

McGill University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Mental Health

Treatments: Other: HealthyDads Digital Intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06872411

2025-11066

Details and patient eligibility

About

Approximately one in 10 fathers experience mental health difficulties during their partner's pregnancy and/or the postpartum period. There is a need for routine depression screening and timely interventions for fathers in the postpartum however there is a lack of resources tailored to men. To fill this gap, the investigators developed HealthyDads which includes up-to-date information and strategies related to i) prevention or reduction of stress and depressive symptoms; ii) parenting skills preparation tailored to expectant dads and iii) healthy lifestyle promotion for men at risk for depression. The investigators objective is to evaluate the acceptability of the HealthDads website targeting the mental health of at risk expectant fathers.

Enrollment: 100 estimated patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Fathers-to-be who:

• reside in Canada
• able to communicate in French or English
• gestational age of partner's pregnancy between 14-28 weeks
• internet access
• score <12 on the EPDS
• at least 1 risk factor for depression if they score <6 on the EPDS: a) history of depression; b) elevated anxiety (score >10 on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale)116; or c) couple discord (established cutoff score <13 on the 4-item Dyadic Adjustment Scale117 or Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index global score >5

Exclusion criteria

• suicidal ideation or intent
• score ≥12 on the EPDS
• having a severe psychiatric disorder as reported by the participant

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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100 participants in 1 patient group

HealthyDads web-based program group

Experimental group

Description:

All participants in the study will be asked to use the HealthyDads website which includes up-to-date information and strategies related to i) prevention or reduction of stress and depressive symptoms; ii) parenting skills preparation tailored to expectant dads and iii) healthy lifestyle promotion for men at risk for depression.

Treatment:

Other: HealthyDads Digital Intervention