Did NYU Professor Suffer Paternal Postnatal Depression?

Tuesday night NYU computer science professor Sam Roweis jumped to his death from his 16th floor balcony at 1 Washington Square Village. The 37-year-old had allegedly been arguing with his wife about how to care for their 15-month-old "sickly" twins. Police say this triggered his suicide.

Now the Daily News takes a look at who Roweis was, noting he had just started his professorship in the Fall of '09, and had a reputation as a brilliant researcher. Friends and colleagues say the incident is unfathomable, and that Roweis "was very personable and full of bubbly enthusiasm."

Another colleague told the National Post, "I think he was probably under immense pressure academically and had incredible stress due to the care of the children. It is even more surprising because he was such a responsible, professional, and successful person."

One psychotherapist discussed the possibility of men experiencing postpartum depression, saying "studies suggest men may be just as likely as women to be depressed when they become parents. The condition is typically called paternal postnatal depression." This can cause lack of sleep and hormonal changes — including "a drop in testosterone levels that makes them more likely to stick around and look after a baby, but also more likely to feel angry or depressed."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on January 14, 2010 10:33 AM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

More like "Not Published Depression".

values_hehe

From my experience in academia, even if you're a genius, if you're graduating from CalTech and trying to get tenure at NYU, you're a workaholic, and no one around you is going to try to change that. It's a perfect breeding ground for depression and decreased ability to engage with real life.

henryhamilton

Every man knows why he did this. Keep your burdens to a manageable level.

Snoopy

Paternal Postnasal Depression? What the hell is that?

Clarice City

Baby blues for dudes?

Clarice City

Bludes?

PathToWisdom

Wife is not suppose to argue with a man on

family issues.

When a man cannot accept the issues presented,

and he cannot divorce or end the relationship easily

without harm to his career, his future, then

it is easier to end his life.

The result is, the man doesn't need to deal with those issues. And the widow gets what she wanted, if,

the money is there.

Suicide is correct. He chose correctly. Why?

He didn't choose to divorce, which some families and cultures don't accept.

He cannot kill the wife, because some men doesn't want to live with going to jail or have that fact in the resume. He cannot live with being stuck with raising children.

Women think they can #uck with a man's life?

Think again. He is happier dead.

She is unhappy stuck with babies and

inadequate income. Oh, NYC and taxpayers can help?

Steven

It's called life. Life has tons of up and downs and you to deal with the situation presented to you, sometimes good and sometimes bad ones. Unfortunately he took the easy way out.

hotstepper

*coattails*

Outter Burrougher

Life is also not quite so black and white.

famdoc

Paternal Postnatal Depression?

I don't think so. By all account, he ran from his dispute with his wife and jumped. It was an impulsive act, not planned. More typical of someone with bipolar disease or borderline personality disorder. Look at his bio and web page on the NYU site. His messages to students and prospective students had a bit of a tone to it. Perhaps a clue, perhaps not. In any case, I feel nothing but sorrow for his wife and children. And, there's more to the story than we know. There always is.

Financial problems? On-line gambling debts? Academic impropriety? Who knows. None of our business.

The Man Bat

I stand by my theory that it was the AA "velvet" ad....that is some fiiiiiiiiine strange.

Trilby16

Yeah, um, is Velvet the name of that hooker?

verbal

Still think she pushed him; now we know it was because she couldn't believe how big a pussy she married.

kleinpeter

"...a drop in testosterone levels that makes them more likely to stick around and look after a baby..."

Great - now all those deadbeat fathers who run out on their families have a validated excuse.

"It's not my fault. I have PPD."

Angelheaded Hipster

do we get an A in his class for this semester?

diablofreak

Your lame attempt at being funny on this tragic news fails because NYU is in winter recess.

Angelheaded Hipster

damn --you got me there with your factual knowledge !

farleft

Don't understand why the press is constantly trying to justify the suicide. I'd love to read a story on his wife's depression as a result of having preemies with special needs, her difficulty caring for her kids the past 15+ months, the stain it put on her marriage and career, and her pending financial conundrum as a result of his suicide.

duckfeather

Had it been the mother to go, no doubt the media would be full of sympathy for the father left to balance two preemies and a brilliant career. But even the spin can't detract from the tragic and unfathomable nature of what happened to this family.