Men are to be given NHS counselling for postnatal depression.

　　The project, called 'Fathers Matter', will be piloted in Basildon, Essex, by the South Essex Partnership NHS Trust.

　　It will begin in October and will be funded by a 3,500 grant from the Queen's Nursing Institute, a charity which supports community health schemes. The project will operate through a special helpline number, to be distributed to all new fathers in the area in a leaflet called 'Fathers Matter, In Tune With Dads'.

　　Trained volunteers will be on hand to provide confidential advice to distressed fathers whose partners have recently given birth.

　　The men will also be invited to fortnightly help group meetings at the Basildon office of mental health charity Mind. A spokesperson said: "Pregnancy and the arrival of a new baby can be a stressful time for dads too. "We hope this will lead to a nationwide network of counselling for male postnatal depression."