Ruari Kennedy, a 29-year-old London paramedic, has spoken out about how the UK's statutory paternity leave entitlement led him to experience postnatal depression after returning to work just two weeks following his son's birth.
Emergency C-section and no family support
Kennedy's wife underwent an emergency C-section, and with no family nearby to help, the couple struggled to manage a newborn alongside her recovery. Despite these challenges, UK law allowed him only two weeks of statutory paternity leave, paid at £194.32 per week—less than half the minimum wage.
He returned to 12-hour frontline ambulance shifts, and within six weeks, he was experiencing symptoms of postnatal depression. "I personally feel that had paternity leave been longer, I would have had more time to adjust to these life-altering events," Kennedy told MyLondon.
Burnout and depression
Kennedy described the impact: "Those two weeks of paternity leave were spent with me trying to look after a newborn baby, trying to bond, and doing everything for my wife; instead, I didn't get the chance." He added, "I felt awful when there were days I couldn't be my 'normal self'. I felt I was letting the baby and my wife down, which obviously did not help the depression."
He eventually had to take three months off work to recover. "I do not think I'd have burnt out, been depressed, and be off work," he said.
Campaign for reform
Kennedy joined forces with Movember and paternity leave campaign group The Dad Shift to demand urgent reform. The UK offers the worst paternity leave in Europe, where the average is eight weeks. Campaigners are calling for six weeks of statutory paternity leave at 90% pay (capped), with two weeks taken at birth and the remaining four weeks available anytime in the first year.
"If paternity leave were six weeks, it would have given me ample time for my wife to recover and me to look after and bond with my son better," Kennedy said. The campaign launched ahead of Men's Health Week (15–21 June) and Father's Day (21 June).
Public support needed
A poll found 60% of Britons believe quality time with children is becoming a luxury only wealthy parents can afford. Movember and The Dad Shift are urging the public to sign a petition for better paternity leave.
