What is The OhioGuidestone Yates Father Symptom Scale?
We developed The OhioGuidestone Yates Father Symptom Scale (Yates) to screen for perinatal mental health needs of 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 had been made to validate the EPDS and similar tools for men, however, we believed there was 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.
The OhioGuidestone Yates Father Symptom Scale 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 The OhioGuidestone's Yates Father Symptom Scale so Important?
By utilizing a culturally responsive and well-crafted tool, we aim to:
- Provide understanding on how perinatal mood disorders (like depression and anxiety) presents itself in male fathers,
- Identify symptoms that might suggest a greater possibility of 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 are a leader in initiatives that innovates 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, as well as the connection to child development, it’s imperative to screen for and to treat paternal perinatal depression.
Our Validated OhioGuidestone Yates Father Symptom Scale (C) 2025 Screening Tool
We’ve spent the last few years working to validate our screening tool for fathers, and are happy to present to you: The OhioGuidestone Yates Father Symptom Scale! (Complete the form below to download.)
This tool was built with fathers and for fathers in a robust validation research study (publication coming soon!) to provide a one-of-a-kind mental health screening tool for perinatal fathers. We invite practitioners who work with men, fathers, families, children and mothers to use the tool. Please visit our Events page to sign-up for trainings.
