Perinatal depression, a mental illness that may occur either during pregnancy or within the first 12 months after delivery, can lead to maternal health problems and maltreatment of the child. Recently, perinatal depression has also been found at high rates among men. However, paternal perinatal depression is not well recognized by healthcare workers, screening and prevention systems are lacking, and there is a paucity of literature reviewing the differences in prevalence between men and women. We therefore performed a meta-analysis of the prevalence of perinatal depression in Japanese men and women. Following searches of the PubMed and ICHUSHI databases, we initially reviewed 1,317 abstracts, retrieved 301 articles, and extracted 123 studies on perinatal depression in Japanese women. Our analysis revealed a period prevalence of perinatal depression among Japanese women ranging from 11.5% to 15.1%, with a point prevalence of postpartum depression at 1 month of 14.3%. We then reviewed 1,379 abstracts, retrieved 33 articles, and ultimately extracted 15 studies on perinatal depression in Japanese men for detailed analysis. The period prevalence of paternal perinatal depression in men ranged from 8.2% to 13.2%, with the prevalence of postpartum depression as high in men as it was in women and not significantly different between them. An increased suicide risk associated with perinatal depression has been reported previously among men as well as women, and maternal and paternal perinatal depression are reported to be correlated. Accordingly, it is necessary for women and men to be vigilant about their mental state and seek assistance when needed during the perinatal period. Psychological and social support from a family unit perspective is important to prevent parental suicide and to promote healthy development of the child.
 Authors' abstract