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Published VersionCC BY-NC V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Screening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fathers' mental health through a digital parenting programme
Health Promotion International, Vol.40(6), pp.1-9
2025
PMID: 41287965
Abstract
Screening and treatment of maternal perinatal depression is well established, yet existing health care services rarely focus on fathers, and even fewer on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fathers. This study examined the engagement with the Mood Checker (MC) mental health screening tool among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) fathers enrolled in the SMS4dads/SMS4DeadlyDads programme. The MC prompts self-reflection on parenting and wellbeing topics and offers referral to mental health support when needed. Routinely collected programme data from participants enrolled between September 2021 and 30 June 2024 were analysed to assess engagement across 14 MCs, including link clicks, self-assessment responses, and access to linked supports. A total of 571 fathers received an average of eight MC texts. Across 4545 texts sent, 19% of MC links were clicked, and of these, 29% were completed. The MC 'Antenatal stress' had the highest proportion of link clicks, while 'Will I be a good father' had the highest completion rate followed by 'Antenatal stress'. MC responses indicating higher concern were related to 'Exercise', 'Intimacy', and 'Sleep'. Thirty-four participants were offered a mental health support link. Participants who did not click on any MC link and those who clicked but did not complete had significantly higher distress at enrolment compared to those who engaged with the MC. These findings highlight the potential of culturally appropriate digital fathering programmes to identify distress and support timely mental health referral for Indigenous fathers during the perinatal period.
Details
- Title
- Screening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fathers' mental health through a digital parenting programme
- Authors
- Craig Hammond (Author) - University of Newcastle AustraliaMick Adams (Author) - University of Newcastle AustraliaJeffrey So (Author) - University of Newcastle AustraliaJennifer StGeorge (Author) - University of Newcastle AustraliaRichard Fletcher (Corresponding Author) - University of Newcastle Australia
- Publication details
- Health Promotion International, Vol.40(6), pp.1-9
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1093/heapro/daaf197
- ISSN
- 1460-2245; 0957-4824
- PMID
- 41287965
- Copyright note
- © The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.
- Data Availability
- Data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
- Grant note
- The study was supported by the Department of Health Perinatal Mental Health and Wellbeing Program (grant number 4-G52QFD9).
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Nutrition & Dietetics
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991213081002621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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