Mental health self-checks you can trust
MindCheck Tools provides free, evidence-based mental health and substance use screening instruments built on validated clinical scales. Every assessment uses the published scoring methodology, with results explained in plain language. The site is built and reviewed by a CADC-II credentialed counselor with eleven years of clinical experience.
Reviewed by a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor (CADC-II). Learn more →
Take validated, evidence-based screening tools in the privacy of your browser. No accounts, no login, no judgment — your answers are scored locally and never stored.
Why trust our tools
Completely Private
Your screening answers are scored in your browser and never sent to any server. No accounts, no login, no way to connect your results to you.
Evidence-Based
Our core tools use validated, public-domain instruments trusted by clinicians worldwide — the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and AUDIT.
Education, Not Diagnosis
Every result includes clear context about what the score means and — importantly — what it cannot tell you. We always encourage professional follow-up.
What Are Mental Health Screening Tools?
How Do Mental Health Screenings Work?
What Do My Screening Results Mean?
Free Mental Health Self-Check Tools
Choose a screening tool to get started. Each one runs entirely in your browser.
Depression & Mood
PHQ-9 Depression Self-Check
9-question validated depression screener used worldwide by clinicians and researchers.
CES-D Depression Scale
20-item NIMH depression screener covering mood, guilt, hopelessness, appetite, and sleep. Includes 4 reverse-scored positive items. Cutoff of 16+.
MDQ Bipolar Screening
Validated 3-part screening tool for bipolar spectrum disorders. Assesses symptoms, co-occurrence, and functional impact.
Anxiety & Stress
GAD-7 Anxiety Self-Check
7-question validated anxiety screener for generalized anxiety symptoms.
DASS-21 Depression/Anxiety/Stress
One test, three answers. Screens depression, anxiety, and stress simultaneously with separate severity ratings.
SPIN Social Anxiety Test
17-item Social Phobia Inventory (Connor et al., 2000). Three subscales: Fear, Avoidance, and Physiological. Total 0-68. Clinical cutoff of 19+ for social anxiety disorder.
K6 Psychological Distress Scale
6-item measure of nonspecific psychological distress used in national health surveys. Past 30 days. Score of 13+ = serious psychological distress.
Holmes-Rahe Stress Inventory
43-item life stress checklist from Holmes & Rahe (1967). Check events from the past 12 months, scored in Life Change Units. Three risk tiers.
PTSD & Trauma
PCL-5 PTSD Screening
20-item validated PTSD screening measure developed by the National Center for PTSD.
PC-PTSD-5 PTSD Screen
5-item yes/no PTSD screen developed by the VA National Center for PTSD. Quick first-step screen with trauma exposure gate question. Cutoff of 3+ is positive.
ACE Questionnaire
10-item Adverse Childhood Experiences questionnaire from the CDC-Kaiser study. Yes/no format with resilience framing and protective factors. Score 0-10.
Substance Use & Addiction
AUDIT Alcohol Use Screen
10-item WHO alcohol screening tool to reflect on your relationship with alcohol.
AUDIT-C Quick Screen
3-question brief alcohol screen used in primary care settings worldwide.
DAST-10 Drug Screening
10-item validated drug use screening test to reflect on drug use patterns and their impact.
CAGE-AID Substance Use Screen
4-question validated screening for both alcohol and drug use concerns.
CRAFFT Screening for Teens
Validated substance use screening for ages 12-21 (CRAFFT 2.1+N). Part A gates Part B yes/no CRAFFT questions. Score of 2+ is positive screen. Includes nicotine screening.
WHO ASSIST Substance Screening
Comprehensive WHO screening covering 10 substance categories. Stepped wizard with per-substance risk scores (0-39). Three risk levels with intervention recommendations.
BAC Calculator
Estimate blood alcohol content using the Widmark formula. See BAC level, effects, legal status, and time until sober.
Standard Drinks Calculator
Calculate how many standard drinks are in any beverage. 16 presets with visual comparison bars show that many common drinks are more than one standard drink.
Other Conditions
ASRS ADHD Screening
6-item WHO-developed screening tool for adult ADHD using research-validated thresholds.
OCI-R OCD Screening
18-item validated OCD screening with 6 subscales: Hoarding, Checking, Ordering, Neutralizing, Washing, Obsessing.
SCOFF Eating Disorder Screen
5-question validated screener for anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders. Quick Yes/No format.
MSI-BPD Borderline Personality Screening
10-item validated screening for borderline personality features developed at McLean Hospital. Yes/No format. Cutoff of 7+ for positive screen.
AQ-10 Autism Spectrum Screen
10-item validated screening tool for autism spectrum traits in adults. Developed at the University of Cambridge.
Athens Insomnia Scale
8-item insomnia severity measure based on ICD-10 criteria (Soldatos et al., 2000). Past month. Score 0-24. Cutoff of 6+ for insomnia (93% sensitivity).
UCLA Loneliness Scale
20-item measure of subjective loneliness (Russell, 1996). Rated 1-4 with 9 reverse-scored items. Score 20-80. Research cutoff 44+ for elevated loneliness.
Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
10-item measure of global self-esteem (Rosenberg, 1965). 4-point scale with 5 reverse-scored items. Score 0-30. Below 15 suggests low self-esteem.
Stress, Burnout & Well-Being
WHO-5 Well-Being Index
5-item positive wellbeing measure from the WHO. Percentage score 0-100. Below 50% suggests further evaluation; below 28% suggests depression screening.
Work Stress & Burnout
12 original questions about work demands, control, support, and recovery.
Burnout Assessment Tool
Assess emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced accomplishment with a clinically informed burnout screening.
Mental Load Calculator
See how planning, remembering, and organizing is distributed at home.
Sleep & Mood Reflection
Explore how your sleep quality, habits, and mood affect each other.
Attachment Style Quiz (ECR-R)
36-item validated questionnaire measuring attachment-related anxiety and avoidance. Identifies Secure, Preoccupied, Dismissing, or Fearful-Avoidant style.
Big Five Personality Test (IPIP-NEO-50)
50-item personality assessment measuring Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism based on the IPIP-NEO framework.
Brief Resilience Scale
6-item measure of ability to bounce back from stress (Smith et al., 2008). Mean score 1-5. Three reverse-scored items. Low resilience below 3.00.
Recovery Tools
Sobriety Calculator
Track days sober, hit milestones, and estimate money saved. Your date saves locally and persists between visits.
Money Saved in Recovery
Calculate how much you've saved by not drinking or using. Preset averages by substance with projections and comparisons.
Health Recovery Timeline
See what happens to your body after you quit. Interactive timeline based on medical research for alcohol, nicotine, and opioids.
HALT Check-In
Daily recovery check-in based on the HALT acronym. Rate Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired and see your vulnerability level with coping suggestions.
Withdrawal Timeline
See what to expect during withdrawal from alcohol, opioids, benzos, stimulants, meth, cannabis, or nicotine. Phase-by-phase symptoms with severity ratings.
Treatment Cost Estimator
See estimated costs for addiction treatment: outpatient, IOP, residential rehab, detox, MAT, and sober living. Insurance and financial aid info included.
Relapse Prevention Plan Builder
Build a personalized relapse prevention plan. Identify triggers, warning signs, coping strategies, emergency contacts, safe activities, and a craving action plan.
Urge Surfing Timer
Ride out cravings with a guided mindfulness timer. Wave animation, box breathing, and rotating prompts based on Alan Marlatt's urge surfing technique.
Readiness to Change Assessment
Identify your Stage of Change based on Prochaska & DiClemente's model. 15 statements with stage-specific next steps and resources.
Trigger Identification Worksheet
Identify your personal triggers across 6 categories: people, places, emotions, situations, times, and sensory cues. Get a printable trigger profile with coping strategies.
Coping Skills Randomizer
Get a random healthy coping skill when you are struggling. 51 evidence-based skills across 6 categories with instructions. Filter by category, save favorites.
Daily Recovery Check-In
Quick daily wellness check: mood, cravings, sleep, stress, connection, physical health. Track trends over 7 and 30 days with a streak counter. Saves locally.
Family Impact Assessment
For families concerned about a loved one's substance use. 18 questions across 7 domains: behavior changes, finances, relationships, children, emotional toll, safety, and enabling behaviors.
Screenings for Specific Groups
The same validated tools, with educational context tailored to your situation.
Depression Test for Teens
PHQ-9 screening with teen-specific info on signs, stats, and youth crisis resources.
SeniorsDepression Test for Seniors
PHQ-9 screening with context on late-life depression, isolation, and eldercare resources.
New MomsDepression Test for New Moms
PHQ-9 screening with postpartum depression info, baby blues vs PPD, and PSI helpline.
VeteransDepression Test for Veterans
PHQ-9 screening with veteran-specific context on PTSD, transition, and VA resources.
WomenAnxiety Test for Women
GAD-7 screening plus context on hormonal factors, life stages, and women’s mental health.
TeensAnxiety Test for Teens
GAD-7 screening with teen anxiety stats, social media impact, and youth crisis resources.
MenAnxiety Test for Men
GAD-7 screening with info on how anxiety manifests differently in men — anger, physical symptoms.
VeteransPTSD Test for Veterans
PCL-5 screening with combat PTSD stats, VA treatment info, and Veterans Crisis Line.
First RespondersPTSD Test for First Responders
PCL-5 screening for police, firefighters, EMTs with cumulative trauma context.
AdultsADHD Test for Adults
WHO ASRS screening with info on adult ADHD underdiagnosis, symptoms, and getting evaluated.
WomenADHD Test for Women
ASRS screening with info on masking, hormonal effects, and why women are diagnosed late.
TeensOCD Test for Teens
OCI-R screening with teen OCD info, common themes, and ERP treatment resources.
Young AdultsBipolar Test for Young Adults
MDQ screening with info on onset age, misdiagnosis as depression, and hypomania.
CollegeSocial Anxiety Test for Students
SPIN screening with college social anxiety info, academic impact, and campus resources.
CollegeAlcohol Screening for College
AUDIT screening with college drinking stats, binge drinking info, and campus resources.
MilitaryAlcohol Screening for Military
AUDIT screening with military drinking culture context, career concerns, and VA resources.
TeensDrug Screening for Teens
CRAFFT screening for ages 12-21 with age-appropriate info and teen treatment resources.
ParentsSubstance Screening for Parents
CAGE-AID screening with info on parenting impact, custody concerns, and family treatment.
CollegeStress Test for College Students
DASS-21 screening with college stress stats, campus resources, and JED Foundation info.
NursesBurnout Test for Nurses
Burnout assessment with nursing-specific info on compassion fatigue and shift work impact.
HealthcareBurnout Test for Healthcare Workers
Burnout assessment for all healthcare staff with post-pandemic context and moral injury info.
TeachersBurnout Test for Teachers
Burnout assessment with teacher-specific context on emotional labor and systemic causes.
ParentsBurnout Test for Parents
Parental burnout assessment covering exhaustion, detachment, and guilt with self-care guidance.
SeniorsLoneliness Test for Seniors
UCLA Loneliness Scale with senior isolation stats, health impact, and community resources.
AthletesEating Disorder Test for Athletes
SCOFF screening with RED-S info, sport-specific risks, and athletic body image context.
How do mental health screening tools work?
These tools use validated clinical questionnaires to help you identify and understand your symptoms. Results are for informational purposes only — not a diagnosis.
Validated instruments like the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 are used by clinicians worldwide as a first step in mental health assessment. They have been tested in large clinical populations and shown to reliably identify symptom patterns that warrant further evaluation. The World Health Organization estimates that 1 in 4 people globally will be affected by a mental health condition at some point in their lives — screening tools help that first conversation happen sooner.
On MindCheck Tools, all scoring happens in your browser. No answers are transmitted to a server, stored, or shared.
What is the difference between a screening tool and a diagnosis?
A screening tool identifies patterns that may suggest a condition. Only a licensed clinician can provide a diagnosis after a comprehensive evaluation.
Screening results help you have more informed conversations with healthcare providers — they are a starting point, not a substitute for those conversations. Sharing your results with a doctor or therapist can help guide the assessment process and ensure you receive the right level of care. Research published in JAMA Psychiatry shows that early intervention reduces the duration of untreated depression by an average of 2 years.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 U.S. adults experiences a mental health condition each year — yet only 46% of those adults receive treatment. Accessible, free screening tools can help close that gap by lowering the barrier to that first step.
Are these screening tools free and confidential?
Yes — all screening tools on MindCheck Tools are completely free. Your responses are processed in your browser and never stored or transmitted to any server.
No account is required, and no data is retained after you close the page. All scoring logic runs locally using client-side JavaScript. We have deliberately built our tools this way because mental health screening should be private by design, not just by policy.
When should I seek immediate help?
If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline immediately by calling or texting 988.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988 (free, 24/7)
- Crisis Text Line — text HOME to 741741 (free, 24/7)
- SAMHSA National Helpline — 1-800-662-4357 (free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referrals)
Further reading
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) — nimh.nih.gov
- SAMHSA National Helpline — samhsa.gov
- WHO Mental Health Resources — who.int/mental_health
Your privacy is not negotiable
Every answer you give is processed entirely in your browser using client-side JavaScript. We have no server, no database, and no way to see your responses. When you close the page, your data is gone.
We use analytics and may display ads — but they never have access to your screening responses. No accounts. No login. No answer data ever leaves your device.
Guides & Educational Resources
Understand the tools, the science behind them, and when to seek help.
Cognitive Distortions: 15 Thinking Errors That Fuel Anxiety
Learn about 15 common cognitive distortions, how they fuel anxiety, and how CBT can help you reframe them.
Read guide →GuideWhat Happens When You Stop Drinking: A Timeline
Hour-by-hour and week-by-week timeline of body recovery after quitting alcohol, with critical safety warnings.
Read guide →GuideDBT Skills for Everyday Life: A Beginner's Guide
The 4 DBT skill modules — mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness — explained simply.
Read guide →Frequently Asked Questions About Mental Health Screenings
Are these mental health screening tools clinically validated?
The PHQ-9, GAD-7, AUDIT, and AUDIT-C are validated clinical instruments used by healthcare professionals worldwide. The screening questions and scoring are standardized and have not been modified. Results are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional evaluation.
What is the PHQ-9 used for?
The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) is a 9-question screening tool for depression severity. Scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity. A score of 10 or above suggests moderate to severe depression and warrants professional evaluation. This tool does not provide a diagnosis.
What is the difference between the AUDIT and AUDIT-C?
The AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) is a 10-question screening tool that identifies hazardous, harmful, and dependent alcohol use. The AUDIT-C is a 3-question abbreviated version focused on consumption patterns. Both are validated by the World Health Organization and used in primary care settings.
Who should use these mental health screening tools?
These tools are for adults who want to better understand their mental health or substance use patterns. They are not intended for use by children, as diagnostic tools, or as a replacement for professional clinical assessment. If you are in crisis, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
What should I do if my screening score is high?
A high score indicates that your symptoms may warrant professional evaluation — it does not mean you have a diagnosis. We recommend sharing your results with a licensed mental health professional, your primary care physician, or calling SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for free, confidential referrals.