Brothers from Stone join nationwide campaign as over 100 locations see baby grows hung on washing lines to highlight fathers’ mental health crisis.
Two local dads from Stone took their message into the heart of Cannock Chase Forest this weekend, hanging baby grows from washing lines in a striking call for change to the UK’s paternity leave laws. Josh and Max Ball, along with their partners and children, spelled out the message “Two weeks isn’t enough” in soft cotton baby clothes, joining over 100 groups taking part in a coordinated nationwide protest.
The peaceful stunt marks the start of Mental Health Awareness Week and is backed by The Dad Shift and Movember. The campaign draws attention to the UK’s paternity leave being the worst in Europe – just two weeks off, paid at less than half the minimum wage.
A national message with local voices
Josh and Max were among over 100 families across the country participating in the symbolic gesture, joined by 15 Members of Parliament and supporters from all walks of life. From Premier League stadiums to coastal cliffs, baby grows bearing the same slogan were hung up across the UK.
The campaign is built on new research that shows 45% of UK dads experience at least two symptoms of clinical anxiety or depression in the first year of parenthood. The figure is far higher than previously believed and sheds new light on the mental toll poor support systems are having on fathers.
Strain on new dads
Campaigners describe the current paternity leave setup as a “pressure cooker”, putting emotional, financial, and family wellbeing at risk:
- Financially, two weeks’ statutory pay means many dads lose over £1,000 in wages at a time when baby essentials can cost up to £10,000 in the first year.
- At work, 73% say they aren’t ready to return after two weeks, often expected to perform as normal while running on broken sleep.
- At home, 86% say the short leave affects their partner’s wellbeing too, as they struggle to offer support during a critical bonding and recovery period.
For those who are self-employed or in trades, like many in Stone, there may be no paternity support at all. One in three tradesmen report taking no time off following the birth of their child.
The toll is growing
Among the most alarming figures is that nearly 1 in 15 new dads surveyed had experienced suicidal thoughts in the first year of fatherhood. A similar number said they had frightening thoughts about harming their baby.
Despite this, only 6% of affected fathers said they had received any mental health support from the NHS.
Amy O’Connor from Movember called the situation a “public health crisis hiding in plain sight”. She said: “Better paternity leave isn’t just good for families – it’s a vital mental health intervention.”
A call to action
Campaigners are urging the government to include longer, better-paid paternity leave in its upcoming Men’s Health Strategy. Families are encouraged to add their voice by responding to the government’s consultation, which is open now.
The protest will continue with a symbolic “DadStrike” on 11th June. Dads will form family-friendly picket lines outside the Department for Business and Trade and stage coordinated school and nursery pickups across the UK to draw attention to the issue in the run-up to Father’s Day.
Local families who want to support the campaign can visit https://action.dadshift.org.uk/a/back-better-paternity-leave?utm_source=organic&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=homepage&fbclid=IwY2xjawKNZNlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFjTFBJTkZtNTNBZzlWQUxBAR4PZYD6X9I5F9xBUw3uRblFPEO9EIXyLOIBULo_3GR0Jjo_hMUozYJ1iQK2Ag_aem_3n5CfRj00cbI9LyxH3UI1w
