Wellbeing Screener (PHQ-9 + GAD-7)
Free, public-domain depression + anxiety screening. Always shown free, never gated.
Who this is for
- Best for
- Anyone tracking mental-health symptoms over time, anyone in or considering therapy, primary-care follow-ups.
- Use when
- You want a snapshot to track or share with a clinician. PHQ-9 and GAD-7 are the most-used screening instruments globally.
- Skip if
- You're acutely in crisis. Call a helpline first (KIRAN 1800-599-0019 / Vandrevala 1860-2662-345 in India). The screener supplements professional support, never replaces it.
- Pairs well with
- Student Stress Map. Free PSS-10 perceived stress test plus a domain-mapped student stressor inventory.
What this measures
Two of the most-validated mental-health screeners in clinical use: PHQ-9 for depression symptoms and GAD-7 for anxiety symptoms. Both are public-domain, free to use, and used by millions of clinicians and patients globally. This is a self-screening tool, NOT a diagnostic instrument. Only a licensed mental-health professional can diagnose. Crisis resources for India (KIRAN, Vandrevala, iCall, AASRA) appear above your results regardless of your score.
- Depression (PHQ-9)Symptoms of low mood and loss of interest.
- Anxiety (GAD-7)Symptoms of worry and unease.
How it works
- 16 items, ~3 minutes. Rate how often each symptom has bothered you over the last 2 weeks.
- Always free. No newsletter gate. Crisis resources visible above results.
- Severity bands. Your scores map to validated clinical thresholds (minimal / mild / moderate / severe). Use them as a starting point for a conversation with a professional, not as a diagnosis.
FAQ
What are PHQ-9 and GAD-7?
PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire 9) is a depression symptom screener; GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7) is an anxiety screener. Both were developed by Pfizer-funded research teams and released for free use globally. They are among the most-used self-report screeners in primary care worldwide.
Can these tests diagnose depression or anxiety?
No. PHQ-9 and GAD-7 are SCREENING tools, not diagnostic instruments. Only a licensed mental-health professional can diagnose depression or anxiety. Use these to track symptoms or as a starting point for a conversation with a clinician.
Why are these results not gated behind a newsletter?
Because gating mental-health screening behind email signup creates a duty-of-care problem. Someone showing severe symptoms needs to see them and the crisis resources immediately, regardless of whether they want to subscribe.
What do the severity bands mean?
PHQ-9: 0–4 minimal, 5–9 mild, 10–14 moderate, 15–19 moderately severe, 20–27 severe. GAD-7: 0–4 minimal, 5–9 mild, 10–14 moderate, 15–21 severe. Higher scores indicate more frequent symptoms over the past 2 weeks.
How is PHQ-9 used in actual clinical practice?
Family doctors often hand patients a paper PHQ-9 in the waiting room before an appointment. A score of 10+ is the standard trigger for further evaluation; 15+ usually prompts a discussion of treatment options. It's also used to track response to therapy or medication over time, since the score is sensitive to change.
Can these tests detect bipolar disorder?
No. PHQ-9 only screens for depressive symptoms in the past two weeks, it can't distinguish unipolar depression from the depressive phase of bipolar disorder. If you've ever experienced periods of unusually elevated energy, decreased need for sleep, or racing thoughts, mention that to a clinician; specific tools like the MDQ exist for bipolar screening.
Are PHQ-9 and GAD-7 valid for teenagers?
The adapted PHQ-A (PHQ for adolescents) is validated for ages 13–17 and is a slightly modified version. The standard PHQ-9 is validated for adults 18+. GAD-7 has decent psychometric properties down to age 13 but the adult cutoffs may not map perfectly. Treat scores for under-18 users as conversation-starters with a pediatrician.
What's the difference between depression and grief?
Both can involve sadness, sleep changes, low appetite, and withdrawal. Key differences: grief usually centers on a specific loss and improves with time and ritual; clinical depression often has no clear trigger, includes pervasive worthlessness or self-blame, and doesn't lift with normal life. PHQ-9 doesn't make that distinction; a clinician does.
If I score high on GAD-7 but not PHQ-9, what does that mean?
About 30–40% of people with anxiety symptoms don't have co-occurring depression. The pattern is real: persistent worry, restlessness, and trouble relaxing without the low-mood, low-energy profile of depression. Anxiety-only profiles tend to respond well to CBT specifically; treatment paths differ from depression-only or mixed presentations.
How often should I retake these screeners?
If you're actively in treatment: every 2–4 weeks is standard for tracking response. Otherwise, every 3–6 months if you're monitoring a known vulnerability, or any time symptoms change noticeably. Daily or weekly retests are too frequent, normal life variability will produce noise without signal.
Is there a free alternative for OCD, PTSD, or eating disorders?
Yes. OCI-R (OCD), PCL-5 (PTSD), EAT-26 (eating disorders), and AUDIT (alcohol use) are all validated and freely available. This lab currently ships PHQ-9 + GAD-7 because they cover the highest-prevalence conditions; other screeners may be added in future waves.
What if I'm in crisis right now?
Please reach out to a helpline. India: KIRAN 1800-599-0019 (24/7), Vandrevala 1860-2662-345 (24/7), iCall +91-9152987821 (Mon-Sat 8am-10pm), AASRA +91-9820466726 (24/7). Outside India: contact your local crisis line. You are not alone.