Depression screening assessment

Depression is more than just feeling sad or tired - it’s a serious medical condition that affects how you think, feel, and function. It can show up as low mood, loss of interest in things you used to enjoy, changes in sleep or appetite, low energy, or even feelings of hopelessness. It’s one of the most common mental health conditions worldwide. It is the same condition that is named “major depression”, the name which indicates that this is an important condition to treat.

And here’s the important part: you’re not alone, and it’s okay to ask for help. Depression is treatable, and recognising the signs is the first step toward feeling better.

The PHQ-9 is a short, 9-question validated tool used by healthcare professionals to screen for depression. It was developed by Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke and colleagues, with an educational grant from Pfizer Inc. It asks how often you’ve experienced symptoms like:

• Feeling down or hopeless
• Trouble sleeping or eating
• Low energy or motivation
• Difficulty concentrating
• Thoughts of self-harm

Answer the questions as honestly as you can, choosing from the frequency scale how often you experience the described feelings or behaviours.

Each question is scored from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day), giving a maximum total score out of 27. Your score will then fall within a range indicating minimal to severe depression.

Depression is common — and it’s serious. But it’s also manageable with the right support. The PHQ-9 screening assessment will provide a score that indicates presence of and, if so, the severity of depressive symptoms, ranging from none to severe. The total score is calculated by summing the responses to the 9 questions.

While the PHQ-9 is a helpful screening tool, it is not a diagnostic tool for depression.