MK Dads Club
Posted by ukuluke@reddit | miltonkeynes | View on Reddit | 11 comments
Hi all,
I hope this is ok to post here.
After becoming a new dad last year and struggling with post-natal depression I vowed I would start a group to help dads have somewhere to connect and support each other. Since then, 4 of my friends who are in different stages of fatherhood are also struggling (and silently) until I opened up about my struggles.
I have finally taken the plunge and set up MK Dads Club. It’s a place for dads, step-dads and grandads to connect, support and thrive.
I’ll be organising group walks at Willen Lake in the upcoming weeks to start with. If the club starts gaining traction, I’ll try and organise other events and spaces to connect.
So if you’re a new dad, a seasoned pro, a granddad, or a dad to a soul that isn’t with us anymore - this group is for you.
Instagram - @mkdadsclub
Desperate-Letter2395@reddit
Hello, I don't have IG/social media.
Is there anyway I can find more information without it?
ukuluke@reddit (OP)
Good question - if the mods are happy for me to post events on here, I can keep everyone updated. Also, I’ll ping you a DM so that I can let you know when things are coming up and if there are any updates
Cainedbutable@reddit
No issues posting your events on here 😊
ukuluke@reddit (OP)
Thank you so much!
Available-Art1776@reddit
I had no idea post-natal depression was something that could hit dads too? I guess it’s different from the one experienced by a woman’s body? Genuinely curious about this
ukuluke@reddit (OP)
Postnatal affects 1 in 10 dads following the birth of a child, and with a lot of mental health conditions, it presents in different ways with different dads. I felt like I was drowning, like I couldn’t juggle being a dad, a husband, a friend, a son, a brother, an employee and myself too. It felt like I was constantly one slip away from failing everything.
I believe that postnatal in women is triggered from the “hormone dumping” whereas dads get it from more of a psychological shift and societal pressures.
There is so much support (and rightly so) for postnatal depression in mothers, but no one ever really talks about it in fathers too
Weary-Accident-5368@reddit
Awesome initiative. I own a wellness centre called renü, we specialise in hot & cold contrast therapy through sauna and cold plunge. I've just dropped you a follow on insta, I'd love to host one of your events when you're ready!
ukuluke@reddit (OP)
Thank you so much! I’ll reach out to you on insta when we’ve got some traction!
GreenAmigo@reddit
What about being an uncle?
andrewjb301288@reddit
I've given it a follow.
mitalm@reddit
Glad to hear you've found some people and really hope its helping, well done for reaching out/talking about it too.
Just as an FYI the Milton Keynes family centres also have a dads club that meets regularly, I believe they do a bunch of meets at one centre and then move to another and continue/rotate through the various centres.
I don't have the info with me as I'm at a wedding, but if you phone up any of the family centres they can share the timetable of events, the staff that work there are amazing and lots of volunteers so they just want to help however possible!