Written by Ashley Kane,
Brightside Health
11 Minute Read

Medically reviewed by:
Jen Miller, PMHNP-BC
PMHNP Director
10 Minute Read

Feeling sad, unmotivated, or unlike yourself lately? You’re not alone. Millions of people experience depression each year, and knowing the signs is the first step toward feeling better.
A quick, easy, and free depression test can help you understand what you’re feeling—and whether it may be time to seek support.
Our free online depression screening test is based on scientific tools used by professionals, including the PHQ-9. In just a few minutes, you’ll gain insight into your mental health and whether you may benefit from treatment.
Take the depression symptoms test now to get started with personalized care.
It’s important to note that there is no test for diagnosing depression. There is, however, a depression screener that considers your risk for depression. The only way to receive a diagnosis is to talk to a provider.
What Is a Depression Screening Test?
A depression screening test is a questionnaire that helps check for the symptoms of depression. Unlike other medical tests that measure empirical data such as your blood pressure or your hormone levels, a depression test (like an anxiety survey) uses subjective questions to determine whether you are at risk for depression.
One of the most common depression tests is the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 is a list of 9 questions about symptoms such as your energy levels, your appetite, loss of interest in favorite activities, trouble concentrating, and other common symptoms of depression.
Instead of giving binary “yes” or “no” responses, the responder will assign a frequency to each question ranging from “not at all” to “nearly every day.”
Who Should Take a Depression Screening Test?
The USPSTF recommends depression screening for all adults, not just those with obvious symptoms.
If you’ve experienced major life changes, chronic health conditions, or emotional shifts, taking an online depression test for free could be helpful. You can take Brightside’s “Are you depressed?” quiz online from any device with internet access.
Even if you don’t meet the criteria for a diagnosis, the test can open the door to better mental health support. So, if you’ve been looking for a depression level test, Brightside is here to help.
Why Should You Take a Depression Test?
Although feeling a little bit down every now and then is a common part of everyday life, feelings of hopelessness or despair that don’t go away may be a sign of something more serious.
Depression is more than just occasional sadness or sadness that happens in response to the obstacles of life—it can change how you think, feel, and function, and may interfere with your ability to enjoy daily activities.
This mental health condition can interrupt work, school, eating, sleeping, and relationships. Even everyday tasks may begin to feel overwhelming.
However, depression is treatable. Starting with a depression self-assessment is a great first step. You can take the “How depressed am I?” quiz, as provided by Brightside.
Next, you can explore the symptoms and causes of depression to help you better understand what you’re experiencing and know when it’s time to seek help.
Different Types of Depression: What You Should Know
Before talking about some of the most common symptoms of depression, it may be helpful to review the different types of depression and what they can entail:
- Major depressive disorder is also known as major depression or clinical depression. It entails intense feelings that last for more than two weeks and that interfere with daily life.
- Bipolar disorder is characterized by alternating periods of low moods followed by periods of very high energy, known as manic periods. The low periods often leave patients feeling sad, hopeless, or lacking energy.
- Perinatal and postpartum depression are both related to childbirth, with perinatal being depression that occurs around birth and postpartum depression being that which occurs following birth. Perinatal and postpartum depression are often referred to as one and the same and can occur in the months leading up to, as well as the year after, childbirth.
- Persistent depressive disorder is also known as dysthymia, and the symptoms of this disorder are generally less severe than those of major depressive disorder but are experienced for two years or longer.
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome, and it thus impacts women in the days or weeks that precede the start of their menstrual cycle.
- Psychotic features can refer to delusions or hallucinations. Delusions are beliefs in things that are not based in reality, and hallucinations entail seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not really there.This is classified as part of another condition, but is not a diagnosable disorder on its own.
- Seasonal pattern refers to symptoms that usually start in the late fall or early winter and subside in the spring and summer. This is classified as part of another condition, but is not a diagnosable disorder on its own.
Having a more complete understanding of these different forms of depression may help you better identify which disorder you may be dealing with. If you know you are struggling with depression, think you might be experiencing symptoms, or if an online depression evaluation like ours suggests you may be, you should consult your provider to talk about seeking help for depression.
Common Symptoms of Depression
Depression can cause a range of symptoms that a depression quiz can help unpack. Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe depending on each person’s individual situation.The good news is that these symptoms are treatable.
Symptoms of depression can include:
- Feeling sad or being in a sad mood that does not go away
- Experiencing a loss of interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed
- Experiencing changes in your appetite such as an increased appetite or loss of appetite, and associated weight loss or weight gain
- Having difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
- Experiencing fatigue and a loss of energy
- Performing more purposeless physical activity than before, such as leg bouncing, pacing, handwringing, or an inability to sit still
- Having slowed movements or speech
- Feeling worthless or guilty
- Having a hard time thinking, concentrating, or making decisions
- Having thoughts of death or suicide
Generally, symptoms of depression need to last for at least two weeks in order for a diagnosis to be made, and they must interfere with your ability to go about your life.
How to Take a Depression Screening Test
A reliable step towards determining whether you have depression is to take a free depression screening test, which can often be found online.
However, not all online depression screening tests are created equal. Be sure to take a depression screening test offered by mental health professionals, such as the test provided in Brightside Health’s free mental health assessment.
Other organizations such as the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) and the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) also offer reputable anxiety tests, depression surveys, and other self-assessments you can easily access online.
Depression tests and anxiety assessments found online should not be used in place of a formal evaluation by a healthcare professional. Rather, they can help you determine whether you should seek professional help.
No matter what you need, Brightside will be with you every step of the way, from your initial depression assessment or anxiety quiz to implementing your treatment plan. With Brightside, medication can be delivered to your door in most states, and you have unlimited access to evidence-based therapy, science-backed approaches, and expert psychiatric providers and therapists.
Here at Brightside, we work hard to bring you the depression care you deserve, right from the comfort of your own home.
What Do My Results Mean?
Depression cannot be diagnosed from a screening test alone. This is especially important to keep in mind if you are performing a self-assessment online. These results are a guide for future action, and you cannot diagnose yourself with depression.
The ADAA-recommended course of action is to take your depression screening test results to a healthcare professional to discuss them.
Your results and the answers you provide can be used by healthcare professionals to better describe your current mindset and anticipate your needs.
If your depression test responses indicate that you may be experiencing the symptoms of depression, you will likely receive a recommendation for additional evaluation that can lead to a diagnosis of depression.
How Depression is Treated
There are several different approaches to treatment for depression, and a combination of approaches may be most effective in some cases.
Depression is commonly managed through the use of antidepressant medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or in some cases, serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
At Brightside Health, our psychiatric providers find the right medication for you—analyzing 100+ data points to determine which treatment is likely to be most tolerable and effective.
Once you start taking medication, you should carefully follow your provider’s instructions as well as any instructions on the drug label, and avoid taking too much or too little of your medication at one time.
Psychotherapy, such as the clinically-proven cognitive behavioral therapy, is another treatment for depression, and it involves working together with a licensed therapist to overcome any challenges you’re facing. You can learn skills to help decrease these symptoms and develop coping strategies that help you feel better. Treatment that includes both targeted medication and therapy can lead to a better chance of recovery.
The Bottom Line
Feeling sad or down every once in a while is a fairly normal part of everyday life, but if your sad feelings leave you feeling hopeless or in despair and they do not go away, you may be experiencing depression.
There are many different forms of depression, including major depressive disorder, seasonal affective disorder, and bipolar disorder. A licensed mental health professional like the ones at Brightside Health can help with a diagnosis and personalized treatment plan.
Symptoms of depression can include changes in your appetite, changes in your eating or sleeping habits, slowed movements and speech, fatigue and loss of energy, and a loss of interest and pleasure in activities that you used to love. The symptoms of depression can vary and range from mild to severe, and they may differ from person to person.
Take Brightside Health’s free online assessment, which includes a clinical depression test, an anxiety assessment, and more, to get started with your personalized treatment plan.
FAQs
Is this free depression test completely anonymous?
Yes, Brightside Health’s depression test is 100% anonymous. Your responses are not recorded, saved, or shared with anyone.
You can complete the quiz privately and securely from any device.
It’s designed to help you better understand your symptoms without any obligation, commitment, or exposure of your personal information.
Who is this free online depression test intended for?
This online depression test is designed for adults. It’s especially helpful for individuals who are feeling down, overwhelmed, or unsure if they’re experiencing depression.
If you’re 18 or older and curious about your mental health, this assessment is a great way to begin seeking clarity and support.
How long does this depression test usually take?
The depression test takes less than five minutes to complete. It includes a series of simple multiple-choice questions based on how you’ve been feeling over the past two weeks.
You’ll receive instant results that can help you determine whether to speak with a mental health professional.
Is this depression test only meant for adults?
Yes, this depression test is only suitable for adults. The content and results are tailored toward individuals aged 18 and older.
While teens may experience depression too, different tools are typically used for adolescent mental health screening and diagnosis by qualified professionals.
How accurate is this online depression test tool?
This test uses the clinically validated PHQ-9 questionnaire. It is one of the most widely used tools in healthcare settings for identifying depression symptoms.
While it’s not a diagnosis, it’s considered a reliable indicator for determining whether someone should seek further evaluation from a provider.
Can this depression test provide a diagnosis?
No, this depression screening test cannot diagnose you. It’s intended as an educational self-assessment. Only a licensed mental health provider can make a formal diagnosis based on a full evaluation.
Use your results to guide the next steps in seeking treatment or professional support.