PHQ-9 depression screening — free, private, takes 2 minutes
You've been calling it tiredness for months now. The flatness that doesn't lift on a good weekend. The effort it takes to care about things you used to care about. It's easy to keep explaining it away — work, weather, age — because naming it feels bigger than you want it to be. These are the nine questions clinicians actually use. Two private minutes, honest answers, and a clearer place to start.
Free · private · your answers are never sold. The PHQ-9 is a screening tool, not a diagnosis.
Free · Private · ~2 minutes
A private, 9-question check. See your result in about two minutes — your answers are never sold.
If you or someone else may be in immediate danger, call 112 now. For free 24×7 mental-health support, call Tele-MANAS at 14416 or 1-800-891-4416. Nily is not a crisis service.
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What is the PHQ-9?
The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) is a published, public-domain nine-item questionnaire that asks how often you were bothered by specific depressive symptoms over the last two weeks. Each item scores 0 to 3, giving a total from 0 to 27, which is read against conventional severity ranges. It is a screening and monitoring tool, not a diagnostic test: a score cannot establish that you have depression, cannot exclude other causes such as thyroid problems or sleep disorders, and does not replace assessment by a qualified professional.
Frequently asked questions
What is the PHQ-9?
The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) is a published, public-domain nine-item questionnaire used to screen for and measure the severity of depressive symptoms over the past two weeks. It is widely used in clinical practice as a screening and monitoring tool.
Does a PHQ-9 score mean I have depression?
No. The PHQ-9 is a screening tool, not a diagnostic test. It reports how much you were bothered by nine specific symptoms in a two-week window. A diagnosis requires a qualified professional who can take a history, consider other causes and assess you as a person — not a score.
Can something other than depression raise my score?
Yes. Thyroid problems, anaemia, chronic pain, sleep disorders, some medicines, grief, burnout and major life stress can all move the same nine items. That is one of the reasons a screener cannot diagnose, and why a professional assessment matters.
What are the PHQ-9 score ranges?
The standard total runs from 0 to 27, with conventional bands at 0-4, 5-9, 10-14, 15-19 and 20-27. Nily reports your band in neutral language — a minimal, mild, moderate, moderately severe or severe range — because a band describes reported symptoms, not a condition you have.
What happens if I answer yes to item 9?
Item 9 asks about thoughts of being better off dead or of hurting yourself. Any answer above "not at all" stops the questionnaire immediately and shows emergency and helpline options — before any score, any form and any next step. Safety never waits for a result.
Are my answers private?
Yes. Your answers produce a result for you. Sensitive answers and screening scores are never sold, sent to advertisers or used to build a marketing profile.
If you or someone else may be in immediate danger, call 112 now or go to the nearest emergency department. For free 24×7 mental-health support, call Tele-MANAS at 14416 or 1-800-891-4416. Nily is not a crisis service.