Mental health matters at every age, and understanding how you’re feeling is an important step toward taking care of yourself. This screening is specifically designed for young people aged 11-17 to check for emotional and behavioral difficulties you might be experiencing. Taking just 5-10 minutes to complete, this assessment is based on the Pediatric Symptom Checklist – Youth Self-Report (PSC-Y), a trusted tool used by healthcare professionals to understand youth mental health. Your responses are completely confidential and anonymous.

A note for young people: It’s completely normal to struggle sometimes with feelings, school, friendships, or family. Growing up comes with challenges, and you’re not alone in facing them. This test can help you understand if you might benefit from talking to someone who can support you. There are no right or wrong answers – just answer honestly about how you’ve been feeling recently.

Important Disclaimer:

This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. If you’re feeling unsafe or having thoughts of harming yourself, please tell a trusted adult or call for help immediately. Discuss your results with a parent, guardian, teacher, or GP who can provide proper support. Your responses are anonymous and confidential.

The Screening Test

Instructions

To complete this screening accurately, think about how you’ve been feeling over the last few months, not just today or this week. Read each statement carefully and consider whether it applies to your experiences. Choose how often each statement is true for you based on your honest feelings and behaviors. Remember, this is to help you understand yourself better, not to judge you. There’s no shame in struggling – many young people experience difficult emotions. Answer all questions for the most accurate result that truly reflects your mental and emotional well-being.

Rating scale for all questions:

Remember: Everyone feels down, worried, or angry sometimes. This test looks at patterns of feelings over time, not just one bad day or a temporary rough patch.

The 35 PSC-Y Questions

Emotional/Mood Questions

1. I complain of aches and pains

2. I feel sad or unhappy

3. I worry a lot

4. I feel hopeless

5. I am afraid of new situations

6. I am down on myself

7. I am nervous or tense

8. I am less interested in school

9. I daydream too much

10. I blame others for my troubles

Behavioral Questions

11. I fight with other children

12. I do not listen to rules

13. I do not understand other people’s feelings

14. I tease others

15. I refuse to share

16. I take things that do not belong to me

17. I am absent from school

18. I have trouble with teachers

19. I am doing poorly in school

Attention/Concentration Questions

20. I have trouble concentrating

21. I am easily distracted

22. I act as if I am driven by a motor

23. I fidget too much

24. I have trouble finishing things

Social/Relationship Questions

25. I have trouble with friendships

26.  I spend time alone

27. I feel left out

28. I have trouble getting along with other kids

Additional Concerns

29. I feel tired all the time

30. I have trouble sleeping

31. I eat too much or too little

32. I think about death or dying

33. I want to hurt myself

34. I get into physical fights

⚠️ IMPORTANT: If you answered “Sometimes” or “Often” to questions about wanting to hurt yourself (Question 34) or thinking about death (Question 33), please tell a trusted adult or contact a helpline immediately. These feelings are serious, and you deserve help right now.

Results & Interpretation

How Scoring Works

Each answer you selected is scored using the following point system:

Total possible score: 0-70 points

Score Interpretation:

Critical items: Regardless of your total score, if you answered “Often” to questions about self-harm, death, or feeling hopeless, seek help immediately.

If You Scored 0-27 (Lower Risk)

What this means: Your responses suggest you’re coping reasonably well with the challenges of being a young person right now. However, everyone experiences ups and downs, and it’s okay to ask for help even with a lower score.

Remember:

Ways to stay well:

If You Scored 28-39 (Possible Concerns)

What this means: Your responses suggest you may be struggling with some aspects of your mental health or wellbeing. Many young people experience these challenges, and talking to someone can really help.

Who you can talk to:

Next steps:

Know that:

If You Scored 40+ (Likely Needs Support)

What this means: Your responses suggest you’re experiencing significant difficulties that would benefit from professional support. This is serious, but help is available, and things can improve with the right support.

Take action now:

If you’re in crisis:

Get help immediately:

If You Scored 0-27 (Lower Range)

What this means: Your responses suggest you’re managing reasonably well at the moment. It’s normal to have some difficulties, but overall, you seem to be coping.

Keep in mind:

Looking after yourself:

If You Scored 28-39 (Moderate Concerns)

What this means: Your responses suggest you might be experiencing some difficulties that could benefit from support. This doesn’t mean anything is “wrong” with you – it means talking to someone could help.

Next steps:

Who can help:

Remember:

If You Scored 40+ (Higher Range)

What this means: Your responses suggest you’re experiencing significant difficulties and would likely benefit from professional support. This is important, and you deserve help.

Take action:

If you’re in crisis: Having thoughts of hurting yourself, feeling unable to cope, or in immediate distress:

Important:

Understanding Your Mental Health

This screening helps you understand how your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors might be affecting your daily life. Many young people experience mental health challenges, and recognizing the signs early is an important step toward feeling better.

What Might the Results Mean?

This screening checks for various mental health concerns common in young people:

Emotional difficulties:

Behavioral concerns:

Social challenges:

Common Mental Health Challenges for Young People

Why Mental Health Matters

Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. When you’re struggling emotionally, it can affect your:

The good news: Mental health difficulties are common and treatable. Getting help early makes a big difference in how you feel and function every day.

Getting Help & Support

Reaching out for help can feel overwhelming, but it’s one of the most important steps you can take to start feeling better. You don’t have to face your struggles alone—there are people and services ready to support you.

Talking to Someone

How to start the conversation:
It can feel scary to tell someone you’re struggling, but starting small helps. Try saying:

Who to talk to:

What if they don’t listen?
 Sometimes adults don’t understand right away. If the first person doesn’t help:

Treatment & Support Options

Talking therapies:

Support services:

Medication:
 For some conditions, medication may be recommended alongside therapy. This is always discussed carefully with you and your parents.

Immediate Help & Helplines

If you need to talk to someone right now, there are people available 24/7:

Emergency:
 If you’re in immediate danger or have seriously hurt yourself:

For Parents & Carers

If your child or young person has shared their screening results with you or you’re noticing signs of struggle, it’s important to take their feelings seriously and respond with care.

If Your Child Scores High

Take it seriously:

Next steps:

What to avoid saying:

Supporting them:

Resources for parents:

Scientific Source & Disclaimer

This screening is based on the Pediatric Symptom Checklist – Youth Self-Report (PSC-Y).
Reference: Jellinek, M., Murphy, J.M., et al. (1988). Pediatric Symptom Checklist: Screening school-age children for psychosocial dysfunction. The Journal of Pediatrics, 112(2), 201–209.
For more information, visit Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry – Pediatric Symptom Checklist.

Important disclaimer: This online screening tool is not a diagnostic instrument. It is designed to provide guidance only. If you are having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please seek immediate help by calling Childline (0800 1111), emergency services (999), or by telling a trusted adult. Mental health difficulties are treatable. This tool is for informational purposes only, and we do not store personal health information (GDPR compliant).