Screening for Mental Health, Inc.
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This screening tool is designed for anyone experiencing persistent sadness, low mood, or loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed. Taking just 3-5 minutes to complete, this assessment is based on the PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), the most widely used and validated depression screening tool by healthcare professionals worldwide. Your responses are completely anonymous and confidential.
What is depression? Depression is more than just feeling sad or having a bad day. It’s a serious medical condition involving persistent low mood, loss of interest in activities, and other symptoms that interfere with daily life, work, relationships, and overall functioning for at least two weeks.
Important Disclaimer:
This is a screening tool only, not a diagnosis. Depression is highly treatable—recovery is possible with proper support and treatment. Please discuss your results with your GP or a mental health professional. If you’re having suicidal thoughts, seek immediate help by calling Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 000. All responses are anonymous and confidential.
Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common but serious mood disorder that affects how you feel, think, and handle daily activities such as sleeping, eating, working, and maintaining relationships.
Common symptoms: Persistent sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness that doesn’t go away. Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed. Significant changes in appetite or weight (either increase or decrease). Sleep problems—insomnia or sleeping too much (hypersomnia). Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day. Feelings of worthlessness, excessive guilt, or self-blame. Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or remembering things. Thoughts of death or suicide.
Types of depression:
Everyone feels sad, down, or disappointed sometimes, but depression is fundamentally different. Depression lasts for weeks or months, not just a few days. It significantly interferes with work performance, relationships, and daily activities. It feels overwhelming, uncontrollable, and pervasive. Depression doesn’t improve with time alone—it requires treatment or intervention.
To complete this screening accurately, think about the past two weeks and how you’ve been feeling overall. Rate how often you’ve experienced each symptom during this time period. Be honest—this helps identify if you need professional support. All questions should be answered for the most accurate results.
Important: Depression is not a sign of weakness or something you can simply “snap out of.” It’s a medical condition caused by changes in brain chemistry that responds well to evidence-based treatment.
Rating scale: For each question, rate how often you’ve experienced this over the past 2 weeks:
Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?
⚠️ CRITICAL: If you answered anything other than “Not at all” to Question 9, please seek help immediately by calling Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, or 000 if in immediate danger.
Add up your total score from all 9 questions (0-27 possible):
Score interpretation:
Important: Any score on Question 9 (thoughts of self-harm or death) requires immediate professional attention, regardless of your total score.
What this means: Your responses suggest you’re experiencing significant symptoms of depression that are likely substantially affecting your daily functioning, relationships, and quality of life. Professional help is strongly recommended and necessary.
Next steps – Act now:
Treatment typically includes:
If you’re having suicidal thoughts:
What this means: You’re experiencing moderate depression symptoms that are affecting your quality of life, work performance, or relationships. Treatment can help significantly and prevent symptoms from worsening.
Next steps:
Treatment options:
What this means: You’re experiencing mild depression symptoms. Early intervention can prevent these symptoms from worsening and becoming more serious.
Next steps:
Self-help approaches that research shows can help:
What this means: You’re not showing significant signs of depression currently based on this screening. However, if you’re still concerned about your mood, energy, or overall mental health, it’s appropriate to speak to a healthcare professional.
Stay mentally healthy:
Depression is one of the most treatable mental health conditions. Research shows that about 80-90% of Australians with depression respond well to treatment, and most experience significant improvement in symptoms.
Talking Therapies:
Medication:
Which treatment approach?
Other evidence-based approaches:
Your GP: Often the first step for depression treatment; can prescribe antidepressants (PBS subsidised), provide a Mental Health Treatment Plan for Medicare rebates, refer to psychologists or psychiatrists, and monitor your progress.
Mental health professionals:
Medicare and affordable care: Mental Health Treatment Plan provides Medicare rebates for up to 10 psychology sessions per year (extendable to 20 sessions with GP review). Bulk-billing psychologists available in some areas. Community health centres offer low-cost or free counselling. Some private health insurance covers psychology sessions above Medicare rebate.
National resources:
Crisis support:
Physical wellbeing: Regular exercise—even 10-15 minute walks have been proven to help depression. Establish a sleep routine with consistent bedtimes and wake times (7-9 hours nightly). Eat healthy, regular meals; limit sugar, caffeine, and processed foods. Significantly limit or eliminate alcohol—it worsens depression and interferes with medication. Get sunlight exposure daily, especially in the morning, to regulate your circadian rhythm.
Mental strategies: Challenge negative thoughts by writing them down and questioning their accuracy using CBT techniques. Practice behavioural activation—do small activities even when you don’t feel like it; action often precedes motivation. Maintain social connections—reach out to friends or family even when isolating feels easier. Try mindfulness meditation to focus on the present moment rather than ruminating on past or future. Create and maintain a daily routine—structure helps when everything feels overwhelming.
What to avoid: Making major life decisions (job changes, relationship decisions) while depressed—your judgement is affected. Isolating yourself completely from friends, family, and activities. Excessive sleep or staying in bed all day—this actually worsens depression. Self-medicating with alcohol, cannabis, or other substances. Giving up on all activities entirely—even small engagement helps.
Small steps count: Getting out of bed is a genuine achievement when depressed. Taking a shower counts as meaningful progress. Completing one small task per day is enough—don’t expect normal productivity. Be kind and compassionate to yourself—you’re managing a medical condition.
How to help: Listen without trying to immediately fix everything or offer solutions. Take their feelings and suffering seriously—depression is a real illness. Encourage professional help and offer to help find resources or attend appointments. Help with practical tasks like grocery shopping, meals, or household chores. Stay in contact even if they withdraw—send texts, leave messages, drop by. Be patient—recovery takes time and isn’t linear; there will be setbacks.
What to say:
What NOT to say:
Look after yourself too: Supporting someone with depression can be emotionally draining and challenging. Ensure you have your own support system, whether friends, family, or a counsellor. Set boundaries when needed. You can’t pour from an empty cup.
Urgent concerns: If they mention suicide, self-harm, or feeling hopeless, take it seriously and help them get immediate support by calling Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, or going to the hospital emergency department.
Call 000 or go to the hospital emergency department:
Contact crisis services immediately:
Don’t wait or minimise the situation: Severe depression can be life-threatening. If you or someone you know is in crisis, immediate professional help is available, necessary, and can be life-saving. Hospital emergency departments are equipped to handle mental health crises.
This screening is based on: Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
Reference: Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R.L., & Williams, J.B. (2001). The PHQ-9: Validity of a brief depression severity measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 16(9), 606-613.
Copyright: © Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission. The PHQ-9 was developed by Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke and colleagues.
Important disclaimer: This online screening tool is not a diagnostic instrument. It provides guidance only and cannot replace professional evaluation by a qualified healthcare provider such as a GP, psychiatrist, psychologist, or mental health nurse. Depression is a treatable medical condition. If you’re experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, seek immediate help by calling Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, calling 000, or going to your nearest hospital emergency department. Recovery is possible with proper evidence-based treatment. This tool is for informational and educational purposes only. We do not store or collect personal health information, ensuring your privacy is protected in accordance with Australian Privacy Principles.