Why Screening Matters
Mental health conditions are among the most common — and most undertreated — health issues in the world. One reason is that symptoms can be gradual, hard to describe, or easily dismissed. Standardized screenings give you a consistent, validated way to measure your symptoms and track changes over time.
Taking a screening isn't a diagnosis. It's a starting point. Think of it like taking your blood pressure — it gives you data that helps you and your doctor make more informed decisions.
The PHQ-9: Depression Screening
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) measures the severity of depression symptoms over the past two weeks. It asks nine questions based directly on the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder in the DSM-5.
Each of the nine items is scored 0–3, for a total score of 0–27. Scores are interpreted as:
- 1–4: Minimal depression
- 5–9: Mild depression
- 10–14: Moderate depression
- 15–19: Moderately severe depression
- 20–27: Severe depression
The GAD-7: Anxiety Screening
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) measures anxiety severity over the past two weeks. It is validated for generalized anxiety disorder but is also useful as a general anxiety indicator.
Seven items, each scored 0–3, for a total of 0–21. Scores are interpreted as:
- 5–9: Mild anxiety
- 10–14: Moderate anxiety
- 15–21: Severe anxiety
Important: These screenings are tools, not diagnoses. A high score means it's worth talking to a mental health professional — not that anything is definitively "wrong" with you. A low score also doesn't invalidate your experience if you're struggling.
Take a Screening Now
Both screenings are available free on this site. No account needed. Your results are private.