If you have been wondering, “Am I depressed?” taking a Depression Test can help you look at changes in your mood and daily functioning more objectively. Mental Illness Awareness Week is October 4–10, 2026, and National Depression Screening Day is October 8, 2026—both offering a timely reminder that checking in on your mental health can be a reasonable first step toward understanding what you are experiencing.

This page includes a free depression screening based on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), followed by a plain-language explanation of what different scores can mean and when professional support may be appropriate.

A depression screening is not a diagnosis. It identifies patterns of symptoms that may deserve a closer look. If you are considering professional support, First City Recovery Center provides mental health and behavioral health services in Indiana.

Important: A screening can help identify symptoms that deserve further evaluation. It cannot determine by itself whether you have major depressive disorder or another mental health condition.

Take the Free Depression Test

The PHQ-9 is a widely used, validated depression screening test that asks about nine symptoms experienced during the previous two weeks. Each answer receives a score from 0 to 3, producing a total between 0 and 27.

For each question, choose the answer that best reflects how often the symptom has bothered you:

• Not at all = 0
• Several days = 1
• More than half the days = 2
• Nearly every day = 3

There is no pass or fail. Answer based on what you have actually experienced rather than what you think you should be feeling.

A lower score does not mean that distress is unimportant. Likewise, a higher score does not automatically mean that you have depression. The purpose is to identify symptom patterns that may warrant further discussion with a qualified professional.

How to Answer the Questions

Think about the entire past two weeks, not only how you feel today.

Choose the response that most closely represents the frequency of each symptom. Try not to skip questions because they feel uncomfortable. Each question contributes useful information about the overall pattern.

The PHQ-9 wording below is preserved rather than rewritten into a homemade quiz because changing questions can alter how a validated screening instrument functions. The instrument is intended for screening and symptom measurement, not independent diagnosis.

The 9-Question PHQ-9 Depression Screening

Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?

Questions

1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things
2. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
3. Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much
4. Feeling tired or having little energy
5. Poor appetite or overeating
6. Feeling bad about yourself—or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down
7. Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television
8. Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed? Or the opposite—being so fidgety or restless that you have been moving around a lot more than usual
9. Thoughts that you would be better off dead or of hurting yourself in some way

For every question, select Not at all (0), Several days (1), More than half the days (2), or Nearly every day (3). Add the nine responses to calculate your total score.

Safety note for Question 9: If you select anything other than “Not at all” for thoughts of being better off dead or hurting yourself, do not rely on the total PHQ-9 score alone. Consider contacting a mental health professional or crisis resource for further support. In the United States, you can call or text 988. If you are in immediate danger or cannot stay safe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

What Does My Depression Test Score Mean?

Your depression score describes the severity of the symptoms you reported. It does not diagnose major depressive disorder.

Standard PHQ-9 severity ranges are:

PHQ-9 Score	Symptom Severity	What It May Mean
0–4	None/minimal	Few depressive symptoms were reported, although ongoing distress can still deserve attention.
5–9	Mild	Some depressive symptoms are present. Pay attention to persistence and their effect on daily functioning.
10–14	Moderate	Symptoms are substantial enough that discussing them with a mental health professional is a reasonable next step.
15–19	Moderately severe	Symptoms may be significantly affecting daily life. Timely professional evaluation is appropriate.
20–27	Severe	A high level of symptoms was reported. Prompt professional assessment and support are recommended.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force emphasizes that a positive depression screening should be followed by additional assessment to determine whether a depressive disorder is present, evaluate severity, and identify other psychological or medical factors.

What if My Score Is 0–4?

A score from 0–4 falls in the minimal symptom range. It does not prove that you are mentally healthy or rule out every mental health concern.

If sadness, anxiety, grief, exhaustion, irritability, or another problem continues to interfere with daily life, consider discussing it with a professional even when your PHQ-9 score is low.

What if My Score Is 5–9?

A score from 5–9 indicates mild depressive symptoms on this screening.

Consider whether symptoms are persisting, worsening, or affecting your relationships, work, school, sleep, self-care, or ability to enjoy normal activities. Professional support can still be appropriate even when symptoms are categorized as mild.

What if My Score Is 10–14?

A score from 10–14 falls within the moderate symptom range.

This does not mean that you have been diagnosed with “moderate depression.” It means your answers indicate enough symptoms that a clinical conversation would be appropriate.

You can learn more about depression treatment and what a professional evaluation may involve.

What if My Score Is 15–19 or 20–27?

These ranges reflect moderately severe to severe depressive symptoms.

Consider arranging a timely mental health evaluation, particularly if your symptoms are making basic responsibilities, relationships, work, school, eating, sleep, or self-care difficult.

Treatment options are available, but no particular approach works identically for everyone. A licensed professional can evaluate your symptoms and help determine what type and level of care may be appropriate.

Am I Depressed—or Am I Just Going Through a Difficult Time?

Sadness and depression can overlap, but clinicians consider much more than whether someone feels sad.

Grief, relationship problems, work stress, financial pressure, illness, sleep deprivation, burnout, and other difficult circumstances can affect mood. Depression can also involve symptoms beyond sadness.

Patterns that may deserve professional attention include:

• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you normally enjoy
• Persistent sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness
• Irritability
• Sleeping significantly more or less than usual
• Changes in appetite
• Low energy or persistent fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
• Feeling unusually slowed down or restless
• Thoughts about death or self-harm

Clinicians also consider duration and functioning. Symptoms that repeatedly occur over approximately two weeks or longer and interfere with work, school, relationships, hygiene, eating, sleeping, or other routines deserve attention.

Signs of Mental Illness Deserve Attention Even Without a High Score

A questionnaire captures only one snapshot of your mental health.

Meaningful distress and changes in functioning matter even when your score falls below a particular cutoff. You do not need to reach a certain number before you are allowed to ask for help.

If you are uncertain whether depression is the best explanation for what you are experiencing, broader mental health treatment information can help you understand the kinds of conditions and symptoms clinicians evaluate.

Can a Depression Screening Diagnose Depression?

No.

The PHQ-9 is a screening instrument. It can identify symptom patterns, estimate their severity, and indicate when further evaluation may be useful. A professional diagnosis requires additional clinical information.

The USPSTF specifically recommends additional assessment after a positive depression screen rather than treating a screening result as a diagnosis.

A clinician may ask about:

• How long have your symptoms been present
• How symptoms affect daily functioning
• Previous depressive episodes
• Anxiety symptoms
• Trauma
• Periods of unusually elevated or irritable mood
• Alcohol or drug use
• Current medications
• Physical health conditions
• Sleep
• Major life stressors

A Screening Can…	A Screening Cannot…
Identify patterns of symptoms	Diagnose you by itself
Estimate symptom severity	Explain the exact cause
Suggest when evaluation may help	Determine the right treatment for you

What People Often Get Wrong About Depression Tests

One common misconception is that a PHQ-9 score gives a yes-or-no answer to the question, “Do I have depression?”

It does not.

Another misconception is that someone with a low score has no reason to seek support. Significant distress, functional impairment, grief, anxiety, trauma, substance use, or another mental health concern may still warrant evaluation.

The opposite mistake is also important: a high score should not be treated as proof of major depressive disorder. Depression symptoms can overlap with other psychiatric conditions, medical problems, medication effects, sleep disorders, substance use, and major life stress.

The score is best viewed as information for the next step—not a label.

When Should I Talk to a Mental Health Professional?

You do not need to wait until symptoms become severe.

Consider speaking with a licensed mental health professional when:

• Symptoms have continued for two weeks or longer
• Your mood is getting progressively worse
• Everyday responsibilities feel unusually difficult
• You are withdrawing from relationships or activities
• Sleep or appetite has changed significantly
• Work or school performance is suffering
• You are using alcohol or drugs to cope
• You have experienced depression before and recognize familiar symptoms
• Your PHQ-9 score falls within a moderate or higher range
• You simply feel that something is wrong and want help understanding it

A professional assessment can help distinguish depression from other possible explanations and determine whether treatment could be useful.

If these symptoms are affecting your life, you can learn more about depression counseling without assuming that a screening score has already established a diagnosis.

What if Alcohol or Drug Use Is Part of the Picture?

Some people use alcohol or drugs in an attempt to cope with sadness, anxiety, sleep problems, trauma, or emotional pain. Substance use can also affect mood, sleep, motivation, concentration, and other symptoms measured by depression screening tools.

When depression symptoms and substance-use concerns occur together, both deserve careful clinical assessment. It is not always possible to determine from a questionnaire whether one caused the other.

Integrated evaluation can help clinicians understand how the concerns interact and which forms of support may be appropriate.

What Happens After a Positive Depression Screening?

A positive depression screening does not automatically lead to medication, hospitalization, residential treatment, or any other specific level of care.

Instead, the next step is usually a more complete assessment.

That may involve:

1. Discussing your current symptoms and concerns.
2. Reviewing when they started and how they affect daily life.
3. Talking about medical conditions, medications, substance use, trauma, sleep, anxiety, and other mental health symptoms.
4. Considering whether depression or another condition could better explain what is happening.
5. Discussing treatment options appropriate to your individual needs.

Depending on the assessment, treatment may involve psychotherapy, medication when clinically appropriate, or a combination of approaches. Individual responses to treatment vary, and decisions should be made with qualified clinicians. The USPSTF identifies psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy among established depression treatments while emphasizing appropriate evaluation and follow-up.

What Level of Mental Health Care Might Someone Need?

Some people can receive appropriate support through routine outpatient therapy or psychiatric care.

Others experiencing greater symptom severity or more significant impairment may benefit from structured services. For example, a mental health PHP provides a higher level of structure than traditional outpatient appointments while generally allowing patients to return home outside programming hours.

A PHQ-9 score alone should never be used to decide that someone needs PHP, residential, or inpatient treatment. Level-of-care decisions require individualized clinical assessment.

When Comparing Treatment Options, What Should I Look For?

If you decide to seek care, consider more than proximity or marketing claims.

Look for a provider that:

• Uses appropriately licensed or credentialed clinicians
• Conducts an individualized assessment before recommending care
• Can evaluate co-occurring mental health and substance-use concerns
• Offers evidence-informed therapies
• Has clear procedures for psychiatric and medical needs
• Explains why a particular level of care is recommended
• Reviews insurance, payment, and program expectations transparently
• Provides discharge and continuing care planning

Be cautious of programs that promise a cure, guarantee outcomes, or tell you that a questionnaire score automatically proves you need a particular treatment program.

What If I’m Having Thoughts of Hurting Myself?

A response to PHQ-9 Question 9 deserves attention regardless of your total depression score.

If you are in the United States and are having thoughts of suicide, experiencing emotional crisis, or need immediate support, call or text 988. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and provides free, confidential support throughout the United States and its territories. You do not have to be actively suicidal to contact 988.

If you are in immediate danger, have taken steps to harm yourself, or do not believe you can stay safe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Crisis resources should take priority over contacting a treatment center when immediate safety is at risk.

Your Score Is a Starting Point Here’s What to Do Next

The purpose of a depression test is not to decide whether you are “depressed enough” to deserve help.

It is to give you useful information about your symptoms and help you choose a reasonable next step.

• Minimal or mild symptoms with little effect on functioning: Continue paying attention to symptoms and consider discussing them during routine healthcare if they persist.
• Persistent or moderate symptoms: Consider scheduling a professional mental health assessment.
• Moderately severe or severe symptoms, or significant functional problems: Seek professional support promptly for a fuller evaluation.
• Any concern about self-harm or immediate safety: Use crisis or emergency resources rather than relying on the total screening score.

A screening score is information not an identity or diagnosis.

If you would like to understand what professional care may involve, explore depression treatment and counseling. If you are ready to ask questions about available services, you can also contact a mental health treatment team.

Frequently Asked Questions About Depression Screening

How do I know if I am depressed?

There is no single symptom or online score that can confirm depression. Clinicians consider symptom patterns, duration, severity, functioning, medical history, and other possible explanations. A validated screening such as the PHQ-9 can indicate whether professional evaluation may be useful.

Is the PHQ-9 depression test accurate?

The PHQ-9 is a validated and widely studied depression screening instrument. Research supports its usefulness for measuring depressive symptom severity, but it is not perfectly diagnostic and should not replace a clinical assessment.

Does a PHQ-9 score of 10 mean I have depression?

No. A score of 10 falls within the moderate symptom range and is commonly used as a clinically meaningful screening threshold, but a clinician must consider additional information before diagnosing a depressive disorder.

Can I have depression with a low PHQ-9 score?

A low score makes a high level of PHQ-9 symptoms less apparent on that particular screening, but it should not be treated as proof that nothing is wrong. Persistent distress, changes in functioning, other mental health symptoms, or concerns not fully captured by the questionnaire can still justify professional evaluation.

What should I do if my depression score is high?

Consider arranging a timely assessment with a licensed mental health professional. A high score describes significant reported symptoms; it does not determine your diagnosis or automatically indicate a specific treatment setting.

Should I take the depression test again later?

Clinicians sometimes repeat the PHQ-9 to monitor symptoms over time. How often it should be repeated depends on the situation, and the USPSTF notes that evidence does not establish one optimal screening interval for all adults.