A new study through Memorial University is looking to hear the stories of fathers who have experienced a traumatic birth in Newfoundland and Labrador.

A poster for the survey states that birth trauma impacts fathers too, and that it is not weak to speak about it.

They are looking for people who witnessed a traumatic birth, but did not experience the death of their partner or child as a result, between January 2015 and December 2024 to fill out an anonymous online survey.

Zoey Healey, a masters of applied health services student at MUN, says when people talk about birth trauma fathers are often left out of the conversation even though it can take a big toll on their mental health too.

She says fathers “watch their partners in pain, feel powerless when things go wrong, and are expected to stay strong, silent, and supportive. And then they go home with no debrief, no follow-up, and no one asking how they’re doing.”

Healey cites a study out of the UK that has found men who witness traumatic births often suppress their feelings leading to anxiety, depression, and PTSD. She says research shows that a father’s mental health impacts child development just as much as a mother’s.