Depression symptoms self-check
Sometimes it is not easy to tell whether what you are experiencing is a temporary low mood or something that may need closer attention. This self-check can help you review common signs of depression and decide whether it might be a good time to seek professional support.
This is an indicative tool and does not replace a psychological or psychiatric assessment.
Important: this page does not provide an automatic diagnosis. Its purpose is to help you look more clearly at how you have been feeling over the past two weeks and guide you on whether it may be worth exploring things further with a professional.
Many people reach this point after weeks or months of feeling different: having less energy, less interest in everyday life, greater emotional exhaustion, sleep difficulties, frequent guilt, or a sense of disconnection that is hard to explain. Sometimes it is difficult to put a name to what is happening, and having a clear guide can be a helpful first step.
What this self-check can tell you
This questionnaire can help you review common signs such as loss of interest, persistent low mood, tiredness, changes in sleep or appetite, difficulty concentrating, or the feeling that you are functioning less well than usual. It is not intended to label you, but to offer an initial reference point to help you understand what may be happening.
It may also be helpful if you have been wondering whether what you are noticing fits with depressive symptoms or whether it would make sense to seek a fuller assessment. If you would like to read more before or after completing the test, you can read our article on what depression is, including symptoms and causes or find out how we approach the psychological treatment of depression at Ocnos Psychology Clinic.
It is worth reading the result carefully: an indicative score can help you detect distress, but it is not enough on its own to explain everything you are going through. Personal context, life history, current circumstances and symptom intensity also matter.
What this questionnaire is based on
This self-check is based on the PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), a brief questionnaire widely used to assess depressive symptoms in adults. It is a well-known tool in clinical and healthcare settings because it allows professionals to explore, in a structured way, how often certain symptoms have been present over the past two weeks.
Its main value is as an initial screening tool and as support in deciding whether it may be worth taking the next step and arranging a more complete professional assessment. That is why it is presented here as an indicative tool, using clear language and a cautious interpretation.
Clinical basis and responsible guidance
The result you will see after the questionnaire is not a diagnosis. It is designed to offer an initial indication of the possible presence and intensity of depressive symptoms, but a proper assessment should always take into account your personal situation, how long you have been feeling this way, and the impact it is having on your daily life.
If you would like to explore this further, you can consult the NICE guideline on depression in adults or the NHS Talking Therapies standards.
What this test cannot tell you on its own
No brief questionnaire can replace a full psychological assessment. A result on its own does not capture everything that may matter: recent life events, bereavement, anxiety, trauma, work-related stress, relationships, physical health conditions, medication or substance use, among other factors that may also affect how you feel.
For that reason, even if the result points to significant distress, the most sensible response is not to jump to firm conclusions, but to ask yourself whether it may be time to discuss what you are experiencing with a professional.
When it may be worth seeking psychological support
It may be worth seeking support if you have been experiencing persistent sadness, apathy, a sense of emptiness, intense tiredness, clear changes in sleep or appetite, difficulty concentrating, withdrawal, frequent guilt, or the feeling that everything is becoming too hard. It is also important to seek help if these symptoms are affecting your work, studies, relationship, family life or everyday functioning.
If at any point you have thoughts of harming yourself, disappearing, or feeling that life is not worth continuing, do not ignore it. In that situation, alongside completing the questionnaire, it is important to seek direct professional help as soon as possible.
If you would rather not rely only on an indicative result, you can read more about depression treatment, learn about our psychological assessment service, or book an appointment at Ocnos Psychology Clinic. We also offer online therapy if you need greater flexibility.
Complete the questionnaire
Below, you can complete the self-check and see an immediate indicative result. Answer by thinking about how you have been feeling over the past two weeks and try to respond honestly, without minimising or exaggerating what you are experiencing.
Depression symptoms self-check
This indicative questionnaire can help you consider whether it may be worth seeking psychological support.
It does not replace a clinical assessment. Answer by thinking about how you have felt over the past 2 weeks.
How to answer
Select one answer only for each question:
0 = Not at all or hardly ever · 1 = Several days · 2 = More than half the days · 3 = Nearly every day
Would you like to discuss it with a professional?
At Ocnos Psychology Clinic, we can help you explore what is going on and guide you through a first appointment.
This result is indicative only and does not amount to a psychological or psychiatric diagnosis.
How to interpret your self-check result
The result that appears after completing the questionnaire should be understood as an initial indication, not as a fixed label or a diagnosis. Its value lies in helping you see more clearly whether the distress you are noticing may fit with depressive symptoms and whether it may be worth taking the next step towards a fuller professional assessment.
Sometimes the score helps confirm something you had already been wondering about. At other times, it helps bring order to feelings that are difficult to explain: apathy, persistent sadness, tiredness, guilt, mental fog, or the feeling that everything takes too much effort. In any case, what matters is not only the number, but how all this is affecting your everyday life.
An indicative score can be useful if you read it alongside these questions:
- Have I been feeling like this for several days, several weeks, or even longer?
- Am I functioning less well at work, in my studies, with family, or in my personal life?
- Am I finding it harder and harder to do basic everyday things?
- Am I avoiding talking about how I feel or asking for less help than I used to?
If the answer to several of these questions is yes, it is worth taking the result seriously rather than leaving it as just an online curiosity.
What to do depending on your result
If your result is low or mild
It may be helpful to keep an eye on how you feel over the next few days, look after rest, food, and basic routines, and give yourself space to recognise what is going on. If the distress continues or increases, it is worth seeking help even if the initial score is not high.
If your result is moderate
It may be more than just a difficult week. If several areas of your life are being affected, this could be a good time to arrange a psychological assessment and better understand what is happening.
If your result is moderately high or high
The self-check suggests a significant level of emotional distress. At this point, the most helpful response is not to leave it too long and to consider professional support as soon as possible. You can read more about how we approach depression treatment at Ocnos Psychology Clinic.
If you marked thoughts of death or self-harm
Even if this was only for “several days”, it is important to seek direct help. If you feel at immediate risk or do not feel safe, contact emergency services or go to A&E. If there is no immediate risk, try to speak with a professional or a trusted person who can support you as soon as possible.
Seeking help is not an overreaction. Many people wait too long because they feel they are “still coping” or because they believe they would need to feel much worse before asking for support. In mental health, the sooner you understand what is happening, the sooner you can begin to move through it with more clarity.
When it may be worth taking the next step
It may be a good idea to seek help if you have been feeling flat, disconnected, or below your usual level of functioning for some time. It may also be worth doing if you are finding it difficult to get up, sleep well, concentrate, keep up with responsibilities, or enjoy things that used to matter to you. When these changes continue, they do not usually resolve simply by waiting.
In these situations, a professional assessment can help distinguish whether you may be going through a depressive episode, intense stress, anxiety, bereavement, emotional exhaustion, or another difficulty that deserves attention. If you would prefer a broader first step, you can read more about our psychological assessment service or book directly through Ocnos Psychology Clinic.
Frequently asked questions about this self-check
Can this test tell me for certain whether I have depression?
No. This self-check is an indicative tool. It can help you spot common symptoms and consider whether it may be worth seeking help, but it does not replace a full professional assessment.
What if my result is low but I still feel unwell?
The result does not invalidate your experience. You may be going through a different kind of distress, your symptoms may not fully fit this format, or you may need a broader assessment. If you feel unwell, it is worth paying attention to that.
What if my result is high?
A high result suggests there may be a significant level of depressive symptoms and that it would be advisable to seek professional help. It does not mean that the test alone confirms a diagnosis.
How often can I repeat the questionnaire?
You can repeat it later if you want to observe changes, but it is best not to use it obsessively. If the distress continues, a psychological assessment is more useful than completing the questionnaire again and again.
Does this self-check replace therapy or psychological assessment?
No. The questionnaire can offer guidance, but therapy and psychological assessment help make sense of your situation more fully, place symptoms in context, and decide what kind of support is most appropriate for you.
Can I have online therapy if I cannot travel?
Yes. At Ocnos, we also offer online therapy, which can be a helpful option if you need more flexibility or would rather receive support from home.
Taking the next step
If, while completing this self-check, you felt that several of the questions described you quite closely, you may not need to keep going round in circles on your own. Sometimes the next step is not finding more information, but speaking with someone who can help you organise what you are experiencing and think with you about what kind of support you may need.
Would you like to talk it through with a professional?
At Ocnos Psychology Clinic, we can help you explore your situation in more depth and guide you towards the most suitable next step, whether in person or through online therapy.
