What is Guidestone's Yates Paternal Depression Screening Tool?
We developed Guidestone’s Yates Paternal Depression Screening Tool for male fathers during the perinatal period because no other such measurement previously existed. The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and similar tools were designed to detect depression in women during and after pregnancy and childbirth.
Efforts have been made to validate the EPDS and similar tools for men, however, we believe there is still a need to create tools sensitively and responsively tailored to men and the experience of fatherhood, rather than modifying and adapting tools originally developed to understand unique characteristics of depression in women and mothers.
Guidestone's Yates Paternal Depression Screening Tool Targets
Our Yates tool is designed to assess mental health symptoms specific and unique to men and male fathers during the perinatal period (prenatal or up to 12 months after birth). Questions within the tool target domains of:
- Relational and social health
- Fatherhood and family health
- Stress
- Whole body health
The above domains were integrated into the Yates assessment questionnaire to specifically target challenges as well as needs and strengths specific to men and fatherhood. Addressing the unique journeys of male fathers navigating parenthood allows us to shift our focus to what dad is doing right and offer targeted resources and tools like this perinatal paternal depression screening tool made just for fathers.
Why is Guidestone's Yates Paternal Depression Screening Tool so Important?
By utilizing a culturally responsive and well-crafted tool, we aim to:
- Provide understanding on how perinatal depression presents itself in male fathers.
- Pinpoint men at risk for perinatal mood disorders, and
- Emphasize the importance of customizing treatment and support services to accommodate the distinct experiences and parenting journeys of male fathers.
We aim to encourage initiatives that explore possible programming, treatment, and policy changes, to raise awareness of the need to screen male fathers and to offer effective programs and services that meet dads clinical and parenting needs.
Given the established link between paternal mental health and the close link to maternal perinatal health, and the connection to child development, it’s imperative to screen for and to treat paternal perinatal depression.
Validating Our Yates Paternal Depression Screening Tool
Currently, we are validating the Yates Paternal Depression Screening Tool in our Father’s Feelings study. To find out more, call us at 440.260.8865, or fill out our contact form.
Fathers with a child under one year old may be eligible to participate in our study. Interested fathers can complete our study screening form here.
