Mental Health Assessments

What is it?

The PHQ-9 is a clinically validated depression screening tool developed in the late 1990s and widely used in healthcare settings worldwide. It is based on the DSM diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder.

What does it measure?

The questionnaire assesses how often you have experienced nine key depression symptoms over the past two weeks — including low mood, loss of interest, sleep and appetite changes, fatigue, concentration difficulties, and thoughts of self-harm.

How to respond to results?

Scores range from 0 to 27. A score of 0–4 suggests minimal symptoms — continue self-care. A score of 5–9 indicates mild symptoms — consider adjusting sleep habits and physical activity. Moderate scores (10–14) warrant speaking with a professional. Scores of 15 or above indicate significant depression and professional support is strongly recommended.

What is it?

The GAD-7 is a validated self-report anxiety screening tool developed by Spitzer and colleagues. It is one of the most widely used instruments for assessing anxiety symptoms in clinical and research settings.

What does it measure?

It evaluates the severity of generalized anxiety disorder symptoms over the past two weeks — including excessive worry, restlessness, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbances, and difficulty concentrating.

How to respond to results?

Scores range from 0 to 21. Minimal (0–4): maintain your current self-care practices. Mild (5–9): relaxation techniques and mindfulness may help. Moderate (10–14): consider consulting a mental health professional. Severe (15–21): professional support is strongly advised.

What is it?

The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was developed by Sheldon Cohen in 1983 and is one of the most widely used tools for measuring perceived psychological stress. Unlike clinical diagnostic scales, it focuses on subjective feelings rather than specific symptoms.

What does it measure?

The PSS assesses how stressful you have found your life over the past month — specifically how unpredictable, uncontrollable, and overwhelming daily situations have felt. It reflects your perception of stress rather than objective life events.

How to respond to results?

Scores range from 0 to 40. Low (0–13): you are managing well — keep up healthy coping habits. Moderate (14–26): consider incorporating stress-reduction practices such as mindfulness, physical activity, or talking with someone you trust. High (27–40): it is important to actively address your stress levels and consider speaking with a mental health professional.

What is it?

The WHO-5 Well-Being Index was developed by the World Health Organization and is one of the most widely used rating scales for measuring subjective psychological well-being. It consists of 5 positively phrased items.

What does it measure?

The questionnaire assesses how often over the past two weeks you have felt cheerful, calm, active, well-rested, and engaged in daily life. A higher raw score indicates greater well-being.

How to respond to results?

Raw scores range from 0 to 25. A score below 13 indicates low well-being and warrants further assessment. A score below 7 suggests possible depression and a follow-up with PHQ-9 is recommended.

What is it?

The Insomnia Severity Index was developed by Charles Morin and is a widely used tool for assessing insomnia in clinical practice and research. It covers the past two weeks and evaluates both nighttime and daytime dimensions of sleep.

What does it measure?

The ISI measures the severity of difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, and waking too early, as well as sleep dissatisfaction, perceived impairment, and distress caused by sleep problems.

How to respond to results?

Scores range from 0 to 28. No insomnia (0–7): maintain healthy sleep habits. Subthreshold (8–14): improve sleep hygiene — consistent schedule, no screens before bed. Moderate (15–21): cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is recommended. Severe (22–28): consult a healthcare provider promptly.

What is it?

The ASRS-v1.1 screener was developed by the WHO and Ronald Kessler. The 6-item short form is one of the most used tools for identifying adult ADHD symptoms in non-clinical populations.

What does it measure?

The screener assesses key ADHD symptoms including difficulty finishing tasks, organizational problems, memory issues, procrastination, fidgeting, and hyperactivity over the past 6 months.

How to respond to results?

Scores range from 0 to 24. A score below 14 suggests ADHD is unlikely. A score of 14 or above is a positive screen and warrants further evaluation by a qualified clinician — this tool alone cannot diagnose ADHD.

What is it?

The PCL-5 is a validated 20-item self-report measure of PTSD symptoms based on the DSM-5 criteria. It was developed by the US National Center for PTSD and is in the public domain.

What does it measure?

The PCL-5 assesses how much you have been bothered over the past month by 20 PTSD symptoms across four clusters: intrusion, avoidance, negative cognitions/mood, and hyperarousal.

How to respond to results?

Scores range from 0 to 80. Below 33: symptoms may not meet diagnostic threshold, though distress is valid. 33 and above: probable PTSD — consultation with a trauma-informed mental health professional is strongly recommended.

What is it?

The SPIN was developed by Kathryn Connor and colleagues at Duke University. It is a validated 17-item tool widely used for screening social anxiety disorder in both clinical and research settings.

What does it measure?

The SPIN measures three core dimensions of social anxiety: fear (of embarrassment and authority figures), avoidance (of social situations), and physiological symptoms (blushing, sweating, trembling).

How to respond to results?

Scores range from 0 to 68. No social anxiety (0–18): no significant concerns. Mild (19–22): self-help strategies may be useful. Moderate (23–32): consider professional support. Severe (33–52) and very severe (53+): professional intervention is strongly recommended.

What is it?

The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory was developed by Tage Kristensen and colleagues and is freely available. The personal burnout subscale measures physical and psychological fatigue unrelated to work or clients.

What does it measure?

The CBI personal subscale assesses how often you feel tired, physically and emotionally exhausted, worn out, and susceptible to illness — regardless of the cause.

How to respond to results?

Scores range from 0 to 24 (equivalent to 0–100%). Low (0–11): manageable fatigue. Moderate (12–17): consider rest, boundaries, and lifestyle adjustments. High (18–24): burnout is significant — rest and professional support are important.

What is it?

The MDQ was developed by Robert Hirschfeld and colleagues and is endorsed by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. It screens for a lifetime history of manic or hypomanic episodes.

What does it measure?

The MDQ asks whether you have ever experienced 13 characteristic symptoms of mania or hypomania — such as elevated mood, decreased need for sleep, racing thoughts, impulsivity, and increased activity.

How to respond to results?

A positive screen (7 or more 'yes' answers) suggests possible bipolar spectrum disorder. This requires clinical confirmation — the MDQ is not a diagnostic tool. Please consult a psychiatrist or mental health professional.

What is it?

The OCI-R was developed by Edna Foa and colleagues and is a validated 18-item measure of OCD symptom distress. It covers six symptom dimensions: washing, checking, ordering, obsessing, hoarding, and neutralizing.

What does it measure?

The OCI-R assesses how much distress each of 18 OCD-related behaviors causes you. It does not ask how often you engage in them, but how distressing they are when they occur.

How to respond to results?

Scores range from 0 to 72. A score below 21 is below the clinical threshold. A score of 21 or above suggests clinically significant OCD symptoms and warrants evaluation by a mental health professional.

What is it?

The AUDIT-C is a 3-item abbreviated version of the full AUDIT, developed by the World Health Organization. It is widely used in primary care settings to screen for hazardous alcohol use and alcohol use disorder.

What does it measure?

The AUDIT-C evaluates drinking frequency, typical quantity per drinking occasion, and frequency of heavy episodic drinking. Together these three items reliably identify hazardous patterns.

How to respond to results?

Scores range from 0 to 12. Low risk (0–3): continue mindful habits. Hazardous use (4–7): consider discussing your drinking with a healthcare provider. Harmful/dependent use (8–12): medical consultation is strongly advised.

What is it?

The Work Stress Scale is a 10-item tool based on Robert Karasek's Demand-Control-Support model — one of the most validated frameworks for understanding occupational stress. It evaluates three dimensions: workload demands, degree of control over one's work, and social support from managers and colleagues.

What does it measure?

The WSS helps identify which dimension is the primary source of stress: unrealistic demands, lack of autonomy, or insufficient social support. This makes it actionable — the result points toward a specific intervention rather than just labelling overall stress.

How to respond to results?

Scores range from 0 to 40. Low (0–10): healthy work environment. Moderate (11–20): some imbalance worth addressing. High (21–30): significant stress requiring attention and open conversations. Severe / Burnout risk (31–40): seek support and consider structural changes.