Screening for Mental Health, Inc.
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This mental health screening is designed for young people aged 11-17 to check for emotional and behavioral difficulties that many teens experience. Taking just 5-10 minutes to complete, this test is based on the Pediatric Symptom Checklist – Youth Self-Report (PSC-Y), a validated tool used by healthcare professionals across the United States. 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. This test can help you understand if you might benefit from talking to someone. There are no right or wrong answers just answer honestly about how you’ve been feeling recently. Many teens go through difficult times, and reaching out for support is a sign of strength.
Important Disclaimer:
This is a screening tool only, not a diagnosis. If you’re feeling unsafe or having thoughts of harming yourself, tell a trusted adult or call for help immediately by calling 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or texting HELLO to 741741. Discuss your results with a parent, guardian, school counselor, or doctor. All responses are anonymous and confidential.
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 choose how often each statement is true for you. Be honest, this test is designed to help you, not judge you. Answer all questions for the most accurate result. Remember, everyone feels down, worried, or angry sometimes. This test looks at patterns of feelings over time, not just one bad day or week.
Rating scale for all questions:
Emotional/Mood Questions
Behavioral Questions
⚠️ 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. Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or text HELLO to 741741 (Crisis Text Line). These feelings are serious, and you deserve help right away.
Each answer is scored based on frequency:
Total possible score ranges from 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. These symptoms require urgent attention.
What this means: Your responses suggest you’re managing reasonably well at the moment. It’s completely normal to have some difficulties, challenges at school, or friendship problems, but overall, you seem to be coping effectively with life’s ups and downs.
Keep in mind: Everyone has tough days or weeks, that’s part of being human and growing up. If things get harder or your feelings change, it’s absolutely okay to ask for help. Taking care of your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Talk to someone if you start to struggle more or if things feel overwhelming.
Looking after yourself: Stay connected with friends and family members who support you. Do activities you enjoy, whether that’s sports, music, art, gaming, or hanging out with friends. Get enough sleep (8-10 hours for teens) and eat regularly your brain and body need fuel. Talk about your feelings when needed, whether to friends, family, or a trusted adult. Ask for help if things change or become more difficult.
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 or that you’re broken it simply means talking to someone could help you feel better and cope more easily.
Next steps: Talk to a parent, guardian, or trusted adult about how you’ve been feeling. Consider speaking to your school counselor, school psychologist, or school nurse; they’re trained to help students with exactly these kinds of concerns. Make an appointment with your primary care doctor or pediatrician. Bring your test results to show them how you’ve been feeling over the past few months.
Who can help: Parents or caregivers who care about your wellbeing. School counselor, school psychologist, or student support services. Your primary care doctor, pediatrician, or family nurse practitioner. Youth program staff or youth workers in your community. A trusted teacher, coach, or mentor who knows you well.
Remember: Asking for help is a sign of strength and self-awareness, not weakness. Lots of young people more than you might think struggle with similar feelings and challenges. There are people who genuinely want to support you and help you feel better. Things can and do get better with the right help and support.
What this means: Your responses suggest you’re experiencing significant difficulties and would likely benefit from professional support. What you’re going through is important, your feelings are valid, and you absolutely deserve help. Please don’t try to handle this alone.
Take action: Tell a parent, guardian, or trusted adult as soon as possible today if you can. Ask them to help you make an appointment with your doctor or a mental health professional. Speak to your school counselor or school psychologist, who can connect you with resources. Don’t minimize what you’re feeling or try to tough it out alone. Reaching out is the brave thing to do.
If you’re in crisis: If you’re having thoughts of hurting yourself, feeling unable to cope, or in immediate distress, get help right now:
Important to know: What you’re feeling is real and valid, your pain matters. Mental health difficulties are not your fault and don’t mean you’re weak or broken. Through treatment and support work, countless young people have gotten better with help. You don’t have to feel this way forever; things can improve, and you deserve to feel better.
This screening checks for various mental health concerns that are common among young people in the United States. Understanding what these results mean can help you identify areas where you might benefit from support.
Emotional difficulties: Depression or persistent sadness that lasts for weeks or months. Anxiety or excessive worry that interferes with daily activities and enjoyment. Low self-esteem or consistently negative thoughts about yourself. Mood changes that feel unpredictable or overwhelming.
Behavioral concerns: Difficulty managing anger or frustration in appropriate ways. Problems with rules, authority figures, or following expectations. Conflicts with peers, teachers, or family members that happen frequently. Attention difficulties that make schoolwork or completing tasks challenging.
Social challenges: Friendship problems or difficulty making and keeping friends. Feeling isolated, left out, or like you don’t belong anywhere. Difficulty connecting with others or understanding social situations.
Anxiety: Excessive worry, fear, or nervousness that interferes with daily life, school performance, or social activities. It’s very common among teens and highly treatable with proper support.
Depression: Persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy, or feeling hopeless about the future. This is more than just feeling sad sometimes it’s a medical condition that affects how you think and feel.
ADHD: Difficulty with attention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity that affects school performance, relationships, and daily functioning. Many teens have ADHD and manage it successfully with support.
Behavioral difficulties: Problems with anger management, following rules, or getting along with others that create challenges at school or home.
Stress: Feeling overwhelmed by school pressures, friendships, family situations, social media, or other life challenges.
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 multiple areas of your life: school performance and grades, friendships and romantic relationships, family life and home dynamics, physical health and energy levels, how you feel about yourself and your self-worth, and your future opportunities and goals.
The good news: Mental health difficulties are common about 1 in 5 young people experience them. They are also treatable with the right support. Getting help early makes a big difference in how quickly you feel better and prevents problems from getting worse.
How to start the conversation: It can feel scary or awkward to tell someone you’re struggling with your mental health. Here are some ways to start that conversation: “I need to talk to you about something important that’s been bothering me.” “I’ve been feeling really down/worried lately and I think I need help.” “I took a mental health test and the results suggest I should talk to someone.” You can also show them your results from this screening to help explain what you’ve been experiencing.
Who to talk to: Parents or caregivers who care about your wellbeing. School counselor, school psychologist, or wellness coordinator. A trusted teacher, coach, or mentor. Your primary care doctor, pediatrician, or school nurse. Youth program staff or youth workers in your community. An older sibling, aunt, uncle, or other family member you trust. A friend’s parent who you feel comfortable with.
What if they don’t listen? Sometimes adults don’t understand right away or may not respond the way you hoped. If the first person doesn’t help: Try talking to another trusted adult, don’t give up. Call a helpline for advice and support. Speak to your school nurse or another school staff member. Keep trying different people, you deserve suppor,t and someone will help.
Talking therapies: School-based counseling is available through your guidance department. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps you identify and change negative thought patterns. Family therapy involves your family in supporting your mental health. Group therapy with other young people facing similar challenges reduces isolation and builds coping skills.
Support services: Community mental health centers offer services on a sliding scale based on income. School-based mental health services provide counseling and support. County or state youth mental health programs are available in most areas. Online support programs and therapy apps designed for teens (some covered by insurance).
Medication: For some conditions like depression, anxiety, or ADHD, medication might help alongside therapy. This is always discussed carefully with you, your parents, and your doctor. Many teens benefit from medication combined with therapy.
If you need to talk to someone right now:
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Crisis Text Line
Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ Youth)
Boys Town National Hotline
Teen Line
SAMHSA National Helpline
Emergency: If you’re in immediate danger, have seriously hurt yourself, or are about to hurt yourself:
If your young person has shared these results with you or you’re concerned about their mental health, your response and support are crucial to their well-being and recovery.
Take it seriously: Thank them for being brave enough to share this with you. It took courage. Listen without judgment, interruption, or trying to immediately fix everything. Don’t dismiss their feelings or tell them they’re overreacting. Believe what they tell you about their experiences and emotions.
Next steps: Schedule an appointment with your pediatrician or family doctor for evaluation. Contact your child’s school counselor or school psychologist. Ask your doctor about referrals to mental health specialists (therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists). Check your health insurance benefits for mental health coverage. Most plans cover therapy. Consider private counseling if you have the resources and want quicker access.
What to avoid saying: “You’re too young to be depressed” (children and teens absolutely can have depression). “It’s just a phase” or “You’ll grow out of it” (minimizes their real pain). “Just think positive” or “Cheer up” (depression isn’t a choice). “Other people have it worse” (pain isn’t a competition).
Supporting them: Keep communication open and check in regularly about how they’re feeling. Look out for warning signs like changes in sleep, appetite, grades, or social withdrawal. Help them access professional support and attend appointments. Take care of your own mental health too, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Be patient, recovery takes time and isn’t linear.
Resources for parents:
This screening is based on: 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: Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry – Pediatric Symptom ChecklistImportant disclaimer: This online screening tool is not a diagnostic instrument. It provides guidance only and cannot replace professional evaluation by a licensed mental health provider or physician. If you’re having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, seek immediate help by calling or texting 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), texting HELLO to 741741, calling 911, or telling a trusted adult. Mental health difficulties are treatable medical conditions. 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 HIPAA regulations and applicable privacy laws.