While the PHQ-9 is intended to be used as a self-survey to find out whether you're depressed and how severe it is, it should be noted that only a health care professional (like a psychologist, psychiatrist, or doctor) can confidently diagnose you with depression.

Still, it can serve as an indicator that your mental health is suffering, and whether you should take action by seeking help to improve your mood.

Personalized recommendations will be provided to you once you've completed the test.

Why should you take this questionnaire?

While getting to know "how depressed you are" seems unlikely to help you much at first glance, if at all, I believe it's still an excellent starting point to get the help you need and to understand what steps you can take to improve your mood. Everyone has the right to live a happy, content, and successful life, and I consider this survey to be the first step for you toward a better future.

It's essential to obtain an accurate diagnosis to treat the underlying problem effectively. After all, we can't fix what we don't realize is an issue.

I'm currently in the process of creating a questionnaire that measures various aspects that we know can cause and/or contribute to depression, such as hopelessness, a lack of exercise, stress, and trauma, to name just a few. At the end, you will receive personalized advice based on what areas are very likely to be causing mood issues. I believe with my whole heart that this can be extremely helpful to get better because it reveals the "root causes" of your depression that we need to tackle, combined with evidence-based actions to take to resolve these problems.

It's likely going to be finished in the upcoming months, so certainly keep an eye out for that if you're interested!

When should you take this test?

You should take this test if you:

1. Suspect that you're struggling with depressive symptoms.
2. Want to find out how serious your depression is.
3. Wish to track how your depression (and the severity) is progressing over time by taking the assessment now and retaking this same test at a future date.
4. Need to know if you should seek help.
5. Want personalized guidance/recommendations on what to do next. (This suggestion will be given to you after you've completed the test.)

Test instructions:

1. Select the most appropriate answer for each question.
2. Take the test when you’re feeling “neutral”. (That means you shouldn’t take the exam if you’re feeling better or worse than usual, since you’ll get an inflated or deflated score compared to normal.)
3. Be honest.
4. Try to be as objective as possible.

Answer the following inquiry for each question listed below:

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