Am I Depressed? - Quiz
Depression Self-Test
Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the U.S. If you’re struggling with your mental health, take our free depression self-test to learn more about your mental well-being.
Depression doesn’t always look the way people expect. It isn’t always crying or staying in bed.
Sometimes it shows up as numbness or irritability. Sometimes it’s just going through the motions and feeling nothing at all. If you’ve been wondering, “Am I depressed,” this quiz is a good place to start.
If your online mental health test results raise concerns, our compassionate team in Atlanta is here to help. Contact us today to learn more.
Take Our Depression Self-Test
This free depression self-test is based on one of the most trusted clinical screening tools available. It takes less than five minutes to complete.
There are no right or wrong answers. Just answer honestly based on how you’ve been feeling over the past two weeks. Your results will give you a clearer picture of what you may be experiencing and whether it’s worth talking to someone.
Please note: This quiz is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. Only a licensed mental health professional can diagnose depression. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, please call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
About the PHQ-9
The PHQ-9 stands for Patient Health Questionnaire-9. It is a nine-question screening tool developed to detect depression in clinical settings. It was first published in 2001 and has since become one of the most widely used depression screeners in the world. Doctors, therapists, and mental health clinicians rely on it daily.
The PHQ-9 measures the nine core symptoms of major depressive disorder as defined by the DSM-5. Each question asks how often you’ve experienced a specific symptom over the past two weeks. Your score helps determine whether your symptoms are minimal, mild, moderate, moderately severe, or severe.
Understanding Depression
Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the world.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 280 million people live with depression globally. Depression affects the brain. It disrupts the balance of neurotransmitters (chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine) that regulate mood, motivation, sleep, and appetite.
It can affect anyone. Depression does not discriminate by age, background, gender, or circumstance. High-functioning people experience it. People with loving families experience it. People who seem fine on the outside experience it.
Left untreated, depression tends to get worse over time. The good news is that it is also one of the most treatable mental health conditions. Most people who seek help see significant improvement.
What Will This "Am I Depressed?" Quiz Tell Me?
The quiz will measure the frequency and severity of common depression symptoms over the past two weeks.
Based on your responses, you’ll receive a score that falls into one of five ranges:
- 0–4: Minimal or no depression
- 5–9: Mild depression
- 10–14: Moderate depression
- 15–19: Moderately severe depression
- 20–27: Severe depression
A higher score doesn’t mean all hope is lost. It means you may need more support. A lower score doesn’t mean everything is fine either. If something feels wrong, trust that. Scores are a guide, not the whole picture.
What this quiz will not do is replace a clinical evaluation. If your results indicate moderate to severe depression please reach out to a mental health professional.
Signs and Symptoms of Depression
Depression can show up differently from person to person. But there are common signs worth knowing.
Emotional symptoms:
- Persistent sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness
- Feeling worthless or excessively guilty
- Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
- Irritability or frustration, even over small things
- Feeling disconnected from life or the people around you
Physical symptoms:
- Fatigue or low energy most of the day
- Changes in sleep — sleeping too much or too little
- Changes in appetite or weight — eating more or far less than usual
- Unexplained aches, pains, or digestive issues
- Moving or speaking more slowly than usual
Cognitive symptoms:
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Negative thinking patterns that are hard to interrupt
- Thoughts of death or suicide
You don’t need to have every symptom to be depressed. Some people experience only a few. What matters is whether these symptoms are persistent, distressing, and affecting your daily life.
Completing the Depression Quiz
For each question, you’ll be asked how often you’ve experienced a particular symptom over the past two weeks.
Choose the response that best reflects your experience:
- Not at all
- Several days
- More than half the days
- Nearly every day
Answer as honestly as you can. There is no benefit to minimizing your symptoms and no reason to. When you’re done, your score will be calculated automatically. You’ll also receive a brief explanation of what your score may indicate.
If your results suggest moderate or severe depression, we encourage you to take the next step and speak with someone. You don’t have to navigate this alone.
How Is Depression Treated?
Depression is treatable. With the right support, most people feel significantly better. Treatment looks different for everyone. The most effective plans combine more than one approach.
Therapy
Psychotherapy is typically the cornerstone of depression treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is particularly effective. It helps you recognize and shift the negative thought patterns that fuel depression. Other approaches, like DBT, somatic therapy, and trauma-informed therapy, address deeper emotional wounds that may be driving symptoms.
Medications
Antidepressants can be helpful, especially for moderate to severe depression. They work by rebalancing neurotransmitters in the brain. Finding the right medication and dose takes time, but the results can be life-changing. At Valor, our psychiatric team works closely with each client to find the right fit.
Holistic Support
Healing the whole person matters. Mindfulness, yoga, art therapy, and other holistic approaches help regulate the nervous system and support emotional recovery. These are excellent additions to traditional treatment and therapies.
Lifestyle
Sleep, nutrition, movement, and connection all affect mood in measurable ways. Small, consistent changes in daily habits can meaningfully support recovery, especially when combined with therapy and other treatments.
Structured Treatment Programs
For some people, a higher level of care is the right starting point. Valor Behavioral Health offers Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), Evening IOP, and standard outpatient services for adults experiencing depression. Our programs are built around a post-traumatic growth model because we believe recovery is about building a life worth living.
Mental Health Treatment
Find Depression Treatment Options Near You
At Valor Behavioral Health, our team of master’s-level clinicians and psychiatric specialists are here to help. We take a personalized approach to every client because no two people experience depression the same way.
If your quiz results raised concerns, or if something in this page resonated with you, we encourage you to reach out.
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Valor Behavioral Health is an innovative outpatient mental health treatment facility serving the Greater Atlanta region.
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