New fathers have fewer mental health diagnoses during pregnancy and the first few months after birth. However, this stability does not last, and about a year later, the risk of depression and stress-related disorders increases significantly. The emotional toll of fatherhood increases over time, not immediately, according to findings. Previous studies show that after the birth of a child, fathers are at the highest risk of depression of any time in life. It is estimated that around 10% of fathers suffer from depression in the first year after birth, twice the rate of the general male population. Symptoms often peak between the third and sixth months of a child's life. These findings surprised the researchers.