If you’ve been asking yourself, “Am I depressed?” you may have noticed changes in your mood, motivation, sleep, energy, concentration, or ability to enjoy things that normally matter to you. A depression test can help you put those changes into context and identify symptoms that may be worth discussing with a healthcare professional.

This page includes a free PHQ-9 depression screening you can take below. It is designed to identify patterns of depressive symptoms, not to diagnose depression or another mental health condition.

The timing is especially relevant during Mental Illness Awareness Week, October 4–10, 2026, and National Depression Screening Day on October 8. Awareness can reduce stigma, but it becomes most useful when it helps someone recognize possible signs of mental illness and consider an appropriate next step. NAMI identifies Mental Illness Awareness Week as an opportunity to increase understanding and connect people with mental-health information and resources.

Before you take the test: This screening can help you understand your symptoms, but it cannot diagnose depression. A licensed healthcare professional can provide a diagnosis and help determine whether treatment or additional evaluation is appropriate.

Take the Free Depression Test

The screening below uses the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, or PHQ-9, a widely used nine-question measure of depressive symptoms. It asks how often certain symptoms have affected you during the past two weeks.

Each response is assigned a value from 0 to 3, producing a total PHQ-9 score between 0 and 27. The tool is designed for screening and symptom measurement, not for making a diagnosis on its own.

Answer based on how you have actually been feeling, rather than choosing the response you think you should give.

Before You Begin

A high score does not automatically mean you have major depressive disorder, and a low score does not mean your concerns are unimportant.

The PHQ-9 captures one set of symptoms during a specific two-week period. Your health history, functioning, other mental or physical health conditions, medications, substance use, life circumstances, and safety concerns can all affect how a clinician interprets what you are experiencing.

Interactive PHQ-9 Depression Screening

During the last two weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems?

For each question, select:

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

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 or watching television.
8. Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed—or the opposite, being unusually fidgety or restless.
9. Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself in some way.

Total possible score: 0–27.

The PHQ-9 and its standard response scale may be reproduced and distributed without a separate permission request.

Developer safety requirement for Question 9: If the reader selects Several days, More than half the days, or Nearly every day for Question 9, display the following message immediately, regardless of the total score:

Your response indicates that you have had thoughts about death or hurting yourself. You do not need to wait for a test result to seek support.

In the United States, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Support is available 24/7, free, and confidential. If you are in immediate physical danger or experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

The 988 Lifeline supports people experiencing suicidal thoughts, depression, emotional distress, and substance-use concerns.

What Does My Depression Test Score Mean?

Once you have completed the screening, add the values for all nine responses.

These are established PHQ-9 symptom-severity ranges. They describe the screening score, not a diagnosis.

Score 0–4: Minimal Symptoms

A score from 0 to 4 falls within the PHQ-9’s minimal symptom range. That does not mean you must ignore changes in your mental health.

The questionnaire looks only at the previous two weeks. If you have been struggling outside that period, feel unlike yourself, or notice problems with work, relationships, sleep, substance use, or everyday responsibilities, consider discussing those concerns with a licensed professional.

Score 5–9: Mild Symptoms

A score from 5 to 9 falls within the mild symptom range.

Some depressive symptoms may be present, even if they have not reached a higher PHQ-9 range. Pay attention to whether symptoms continue, become more frequent, or make daily life more difficult. Recurring or worsening concerns are reasonable to discuss with a primary-care or mental-health professional.

Score 10–14: Moderate Symptoms

A score from 10 to 14 falls within the PHQ-9’s moderate symptom range.

At this point, a professional evaluation may be especially useful. A clinician can look beyond the score to understand how long symptoms have been present, how much they interfere with daily life, and whether medical, psychiatric, medication-related, or substance-use factors may also be contributing.

Score 15–19: Moderately Severe Symptoms

A score from 15 to 19 falls within the PHQ-9’s moderately severe symptom range.

Symptoms in this range may be having a substantial effect on work, relationships, sleep, self-care, or other areas of functioning. Consider arranging a prompt evaluation with a qualified healthcare or mental-health professional.

If you are having thoughts about suicide or self-harm, use crisis support regardless of your total score.

Score 20–27: Severe Symptoms

A score from 20 to 27 falls within the PHQ-9’s highest symptom-severity range.

A score in this range is a reason to seek timely clinical evaluation, but it is still not proof of a particular diagnosis. A licensed professional can evaluate what is contributing to the symptoms and discuss appropriate treatment options.

If you feel unable to stay safe, call or text 988 in the U.S. If there is immediate danger or a medical emergency, call 911 or seek emergency medical care.

A Depression Test Is a Screening Tool — Not a Diagnosis

A depression screening and a clinical diagnosis answer different questions.

Screening asks whether certain symptoms are present and how frequently they are occurring. It can identify patterns that suggest a more complete evaluation may be worthwhile.

Diagnosis goes further.

A qualified clinician may consider your symptoms, how long they have been present, their effect on everyday functioning, medical history, current medications, family history, substance use, and other possible explanations.

Symptoms that resemble depression can occur alongside—or sometimes be related to—conditions and circumstances such as:

• Anxiety disorders
• Grief
• Bipolar disorder
• Trauma-related conditions
• Chronic stress
• Sleep disorders
• Thyroid and other medical conditions
• Medication effects
• Alcohol or drug use

This is one reason an online depression test cannot reliably answer the question “Do I have depression?” by itself.

It can, however, give you useful information to bring to a licensed clinician.

What People Often Get Wrong About Depression Tests

One common misconception is that a PHQ-9 score works like a laboratory result: cross a certain number and you definitively “have depression.”

It does not work that way.

The score describes the frequency and severity of a defined set of symptoms over a two-week period. It does not independently determine why those symptoms are happening.

Another misconception is that a low score means someone should dismiss how they feel. Screening tools cannot capture every aspect of mental health, and symptoms may fluctuate over time.

The reverse is also important: a high score should not be treated as a label or a prediction of what will happen next.

The most useful way to think about a depression test is as a starting point for understanding symptoms and deciding whether additional evaluation would help.

What Are the Signs of Depression?

Depression can affect emotions, thoughts, physical energy, behavior, and everyday functioning. Not everyone experiences it in the same way.

Possible signs of depression include:

• Persistent sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness. You may feel low much of the time or have difficulty imagining that circumstances will improve.
• Loss of interest or pleasure. Hobbies, relationships, exercise, music, sex, or other activities you normally enjoy may feel flat or uninteresting.
• Sleep changes. You may struggle to fall asleep, wake frequently, wake very early, or sleep much longer than usual.
• Low energy or fatigue. Routine responsibilities may start taking far more effort than they normally do.
• Changes in appetite or weight. Some people eat less, while others find themselves eating more.
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions. Reading, following conversations, completing work, or making everyday choices may become harder.
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or failure. Thoughts may become unusually self-critical or difficult to put into perspective.
• Slowed movement or unusual restlessness. Other people may notice you moving or speaking more slowly, or you may feel unable to settle.
• Withdrawal from everyday life. You may stop replying to friends, miss work, neglect responsibilities, or have difficulty maintaining normal routines.
• Increased alcohol or drug use. Some people begin using substances more often in an attempt to cope with emotional distress.
• Thoughts about death, self-harm, or suicide. These require attention regardless of your PHQ-9 total.

Individual symptoms can have many causes. A licensed clinician can evaluate them in context rather than relying on a symptom list alone.

Am I Depressed or Just Going Through a Difficult Time?

Sadness is part of normal human experience. Stress, relationship problems, bereavement, health concerns, financial pressure, and major life changes can all affect mood.

Depression generally becomes more concerning when symptoms are persistent, frequent, disruptive, or increasingly difficult to manage.

Instead of trying to diagnose yourself, consider several dimensions of what has changed.

Duration: Have you been feeling this way for a few days, or has the change continued for weeks?

Frequency: Do difficult feelings come and go, or are symptoms present most days?

Functioning: Are work, school, relationships, hygiene, household responsibilities, or other routines becoming harder?

Pleasure: Can you still feel interested in or enjoy activities that normally matter to you?

Intensity: Are symptoms becoming more difficult to manage or taking up more of your attention?

Coping: Have you started drinking alcohol or using drugs more frequently to numb, sleep, relax, or get through the day?

There is no simple online checklist that cleanly separates ordinary sadness from a depressive disorder. If symptoms continue, worsen, or interfere with your ability to function, professional evaluation can provide more useful context.

Why Depression Screening Matters

Screening can make an unclear experience easier to describe.

Someone may know they have been “off” without realizing how many parts of their life have changed. Answering structured questions about mood, sleep, concentration, energy, pleasure, and self-worth can make those patterns easier to recognize.

A depression screening may help you:

• Put words around symptoms you have been dismissing.
• Notice changes that have developed gradually.
• Bring specific information to a healthcare appointment.
• Decide whether further evaluation makes sense.
• Make mental-health check-ins feel more routine and less stigmatizing.

That is part of the value of Mental Illness Awareness Week and National Depression Screening Day. Awareness is most meaningful when it supports recognition and an appropriate next step—not when it simply gives someone another label.

Screening is a first step—not a label.

What Should I Do After Taking a Depression Test?

Your next step depends on more than a number.

Consider the score alongside your symptoms, everyday functioning, safety, medical history, substance use, and whether you feel your mental health has been getting better, staying the same, or becoming more difficult.

If Your Symptoms Are Mild but Bothering You

You do not need to wait until symptoms become severe before talking with someone.

It may help to notice changes in your sleep, daily routine, social connection, concentration, alcohol or drug use, and ability to manage responsibilities. If symptoms continue or worsen, consider discussing them with a healthcare professional.

Sleep, exercise, nutrition, structure, and supportive relationships can contribute to overall mental health, but they should not be presented as substitutes for professional care when clinical evaluation or treatment is needed.

If Symptoms Are Affecting Everyday Life

Consider speaking with a:

• Primary-care physician
• Licensed therapist or counselor
• Psychologist
• Psychiatrist
• Qualified behavioral-health treatment provider

You can save or print your PHQ-9 result and bring it with you.

The score gives the clinician one piece of information. They can then ask about symptoms, functioning, medical conditions, medication use, safety, alcohol or drug use, and other factors that a screening tool cannot fully evaluate.

If Depression and Substance Use Are Happening Together

Depression and substance use can interact in complicated ways.

Some people use alcohol or drugs in an attempt to manage sadness, anxiety, sleep problems, painful memories, or emotional numbness. Substance use can also make it harder to understand what is contributing to mood symptoms.

When mental-health and substance-use concerns occur together, coordinated treatment may be more appropriate than treating either issue in isolation.

If depression symptoms are happening alongside alcohol or substance use, Magnolia City Recovery Center offers treatment designed to address co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns. Its current program information describes coordinated care for psychiatric and substance-use disorders within an integrated framework.

You can also learn more about the facility’s depression treatment services for people experiencing depression alongside substance-use concerns.

Important detox safety note: If you have been drinking heavily or regularly using substances that may produce medically significant withdrawal, do not assume that stopping at home is safe. Alcohol withdrawal in particular can become medically dangerous for some people. A licensed clinician can determine whether outpatient support or medically supervised withdrawal management is appropriate. Medical detox provides clinical monitoring when withdrawal risks require it; unsupervised home detox is not appropriate for everyone.

When Comparing Treatment Options, Here’s What to Look For

If you decide to explore treatment, useful questions include:

• Is the program appropriately licensed?
• Are medical and behavioral-health services provided by qualified professionals?
• Can the program evaluate both mental-health and substance-use concerns?
• Is psychiatric care available when clinically appropriate?
• Can the provider explain why a particular level of care is being recommended?
• Is medically supervised withdrawal management available when needed?
• How does the program plan for transitions between levels of care?
• What continuing-care or follow-up support is available?
• What costs may be covered by insurance, and what might you be responsible for?

The appropriate setting varies from person to person. Individual results and treatment needs vary, so a clinical assessment should guide recommendations.

If depression symptoms are affecting your daily life—especially if you are also struggling with alcohol or substance use—a confidential conversation with a qualified professional can help you understand what kind of support may be appropriate.

When to Seek Immediate Help

A depression screening should never delay crisis support.

Seek immediate help if:

• You are thinking about suicide.
• You are thinking about hurting yourself.
• You feel unable to stay safe.
• You believe another person may be in immediate danger.

In the United States, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and provides free, confidential support for people experiencing suicidal thoughts, depression, emotional distress, mental-health concerns, or substance-use problems.

If there is immediate physical danger, a suspected overdose, a serious injury, or another medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Frequently Asked Questions About Depression Tests

Can an Online Depression Test Tell Me if I Have Depression?

No. An online depression test can identify symptoms and indicate whether further evaluation may be useful, but it cannot provide a clinical diagnosis.

Diagnosis requires broader assessment of symptoms, duration, functioning, health history, medications, other mental-health conditions, substance use, and possible alternative explanations.

What Is the PHQ-9 Depression Test?

The PHQ-9 is a nine-question self-report screening tool used to measure the frequency of common depressive symptoms during the previous two weeks.

Each answer receives a score from 0 to 3, producing a total between 0 and 27. Higher numbers reflect a greater frequency or severity of symptoms on the questionnaire, not a confirmed diagnosis.

Is This Depression Test Free?

Yes. The screening on this page is intended to be available without payment, account creation, an email address, a phone number, or insurance information.

Your result should be displayed immediately after you complete the screening.

How Accurate Is a Depression Screening?

Validated depression-screening tools such as the PHQ-9 can be useful for identifying symptoms that warrant further attention. They are widely used in healthcare settings.

Their purpose, however, is screening and symptom measurement. They cannot replace the broader judgment involved in a complete clinical evaluation.

Can I Have Depression Even With a Low PHQ-9 Score?

Yes.

The PHQ-9 examines a defined group of symptoms over the previous two weeks. Symptoms may fluctuate, and the tool does not capture every mental-health concern or every possible presentation of depression.

If you continue to feel unwell or notice meaningful changes in daily functioning, discuss those concerns with a qualified professional even if your score is low.

Should I Retake the Depression Test?

Repeating a screening periodically may help you notice changes over time, particularly if a healthcare professional has recommended symptom monitoring.

Repeated online testing should not become a substitute for professional evaluation if symptoms persist, worsen, or interfere with your everyday life.

What Happens if I Score High?

A high PHQ-9 score means your answers fall within one of the questionnaire’s higher symptom-severity ranges.

It is not proof of a diagnosis. It is a reason to seek timely clinical evaluation so a professional can better understand your symptoms and circumstances.

What if I Answer Yes to the Question About Self-Harm?

Any response other than “Not at all” to Question 9 deserves attention regardless of the total score.

In the United States, call or text 988 for free, confidential crisis support. If you feel unable to remain safe or there is an immediate medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Your Score Is a Starting Point, Not a Label

Taking a depression test can be a useful way to check in with yourself, especially when you have been trying to understand why your mood, energy, sleep, motivation, or ability to enjoy life has changed.

But a PHQ-9 score does not define you, and it does not tell the entire story.

Persistent, worsening, or disruptive symptoms deserve attention even when a screening result seems low. Higher scores deserve thoughtful clinical evaluation rather than self-diagnosis.

A licensed professional can consider details an online test cannot: your health history, circumstances, functioning, safety, medications, substance use, and the possibility of other medical or mental-health conditions.

If depression symptoms are affecting everyday life, consider discussing them with a qualified healthcare or mental-health professional.

If depression and substance use are occurring together, Magnolia City Recovery Center may be one treatment resource to explore based on your individual clinical needs.

Talk With Someone About Your Symptoms.

A confidential conversation can help you better understand what kind of support may be appropriate. Treatment recommendations should always be based on an individual clinical assessment, and individual results vary.