Plain-language articles about mental health screening tools, what they measure, and when to seek professional help.
113 articles
The DAST-10 suits fast-paced settings like primary care and EDs. The DAST-20 fits dedicated treatment programs needing more clinical detail. Compare scoring, use cases, and limits.
No single tool covers every substance equally well. Compare AUDIT, DAST-10, CRAFFT, ORT, and ASSIST to find the right instrument for the right substance and population.
Postpartum depression affects 1 in 7 new mothers. Learn the signs, how PPD differs from baby blues, risk factors, and how a free screening can help you take the next step.
Learn the WHO ICD-11 definition of burnout, the three Maslach dimensions, physical and emotional warning signs, and how burnout differs from depression.
Attachment styles affect how you connect in relationships. Learn the four styles, secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized, and how a self-assessment can help.
Many adults discover they may be autistic later in life. Learn the signs of autism in adults, how the AQ-10 screening works, and what to do next.
DASS-21 scores range from 0–42 per subscale. Learn what your Depression, Anxiety, and Stress scores mean, how severity levels are classified, and what to do next.
Grief is universal but experienced uniquely. Learn about the stages of grief, prolonged grief disorder, physical and emotional symptoms, and when to seek professional support.
Chronic insomnia affects about 10% of adults. Learn the signs, how the Athens Insomnia Scale works as a validated self-assessment, and when to seek professional help.
Compassion fatigue is the emotional cost of caring for others in distress. Learn the warning signs, who is at risk, and evidence-based prevention strategies.
Learn what a standard drink is (14 grams of pure alcohol), how BAC is calculated, common misconceptions about drink sizes, and NIAAA low-risk drinking guidelines.
Borderline personality disorder is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions. Learn the DSM-5 criteria, how to screen for BPD, and why recovery is possible.
Tracking sobriety time reinforces recovery motivation. Learn why counting sober days helps, what milestones mean, and how to use a free sobriety calculator.
Withdrawal symptoms vary by substance and can range from uncomfortable to life-threatening. Learn what to expect, typical timelines, and when medical supervision is essential.
Urge surfing is a mindfulness technique for cravings. Learn how it works, why cravings peak and pass, and how a guided timer helps.
A thought record is a core CBT tool for identifying and challenging negative thinking. Learn the 7-column method and how to use it.
Values clarification helps you identify what truly matters to you. Learn how it's used in ACT therapy, recovery, and life decision-making.
A safety plan is a written list of coping strategies and resources for when you are in crisis. Learn the 6 steps of the Stanley-Brown model.
See how much money you save by not drinking or using. A recovery calculator shows the financial impact of sobriety.
Your body starts healing within hours of your last drink or use. See the timeline of physical health improvements in recovery.
Treatment costs range from free to $30,000+. Learn the cost of detox, inpatient, outpatient, and how insurance, Medicaid, and sliding scale options work.
HALT stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired, four vulnerability states that increase relapse risk. Learn how this simple check-in works.
Relapse is a process, not an event. Learn the three stages, emotional, mental, and physical, how to recognize warning signs early, and evidence-based strategies that work.
Triggers are people, places, emotions, or situations that increase the urge to use. Learn how to identify your personal triggers and develop specific coping responses.
Coping skills are the bridge between recognizing a trigger and responding without using. Learn evidence-based behavioral, cognitive, mindfulness, and social coping strategies.
Daily check-ins help you track mood, cravings, and gratitude in recovery. Learn why self-monitoring supports sobriety and how to build a sustainable check-in routine.
Addiction affects every family member. Learn about family roles, codependency patterns, impact on children, and how families can begin their own recovery process.
The Transtheoretical Model identifies five stages of change. Learn how to assess your readiness, what helps at each stage, and why readiness fluctuates.
Worry time is a CBT technique where you schedule 15-30 minutes daily for focused worrying and postpone worries outside that window. Learn how it reduces anxiety by 35-50%.
Box breathing (4-4-4-4) activates your parasympathetic nervous system to reduce anxiety, stress, and panic. Learn the technique, the science, and when to use it.
Grounding techniques like the 5-4-3-2-1 method redirect attention from distress to the present moment. Learn how they work for anxiety, dissociation, and PTSD.
DBT crisis survival skills like TIPP and ACCEPTS help you get through acute distress without making things worse. Learn the key techniques and how to use them.
Over 50% of healthcare workers report burnout. Learn the unique risk factors, warning signs, moral injury, and evidence-based strategies for physicians, nurses, and clinical staff.
Nursing burnout affects over 60% of nurses. Learn the unique stressors nurses face, warning signs, and evidence-based strategies for protecting your well-being.
Over 55% of educators have considered leaving the profession. Learn the unique factors driving teacher burnout and evidence-based strategies for sustaining your career.
Parental burnout is a distinct condition affecting 5–20% of parents. Learn the signs, risk factors, and why it does not mean you are a bad parent.
53 million Americans are unpaid caregivers. Learn the signs of caregiver burnout, why self-care is not selfish, and how to access respite care and support.
ADHD affects about 9.8% of US children. In teens, symptoms shift to executive function deficits. Learn the signs, why girls are often missed, and how screening helps.
About 20% of teens experience depression before adulthood. Learn the warning signs, how teen depression differs from adult depression, risk factors, and how a free screening can help.
About 32% of teens have an anxiety disorder. Learn how anxiety presents in adolescents, the role of social media, evidence-based approaches, and how a free screening can help.
OCD often first appears in adolescence. Learn the real symptoms beyond stereotypes, how ERP treatment works, what parents should know, and how a free screening can help.
About 15% of high school students report illicit drug use. Learn about the CRAFFT screening, common teen substances, risk factors, and how to start a conversation.
Depression in seniors is common but underdiagnosed. Learn how it presents differently in older adults, why it is often mistaken for aging, and how screening helps.
New mom depression is more than baby blues. Learn the signs, risk factors, how it differs from normal adjustment, and how a free screening can help.
Veterans face unique depression risk factors including combat exposure, moral injury, and transition stress. Learn why depression is underrecognized in veterans and how screening helps.
Men are half as likely to be diagnosed with depression but 3.5x more likely to die by suicide. Learn how male depression presents differently and how screening helps.
Women are twice as likely as men to develop anxiety disorders. Learn why hormones, trauma, and mental load contribute, and how a free screening helps you take the next step.
Men develop anxiety at significant rates but rarely recognize it. Learn how male anxiety presents as anger, workaholism, and physical symptoms, and how screening helps.
An estimated 11–20% of post-9/11 veterans have PTSD. Learn the signs, why it goes unrecognized, and how screening with the PCL-5 helps.
First responders face repeated trauma exposure as a job requirement. Learn PTSD rates by discipline, cumulative trauma, and how screening helps.
Women with ADHD are diagnosed 5–10 years later than men on average. Learn how ADHD presents differently in women, hormonal interactions, and how screening helps.
Bipolar disorder most commonly first appears in late teens to mid-20s and is frequently misdiagnosed as depression. Learn the early signs and how to get the right evaluation.
Social anxiety affects up to 15% of college students. Learn how it shows up on campus, why it is more than shyness, and how screening helps.
About 33% of college students report binge drinking. Learn how to tell when drinking has crossed a line and how a private screening helps.
Military binge drinking rates reach ~30%, driven by deployment stress, unit culture, and PTSD co-occurrence. Learn about confidential screening options and DOD policy changes.
College students report the highest stress levels of any age group. Learn when academic pressure crosses into a mental health concern and how a free screening can help.
The Surgeon General calls loneliness equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. 25% of adults 65+ are socially isolated. Learn the health risks and how assessment helps.
Athletes face 2–3x higher risk for eating disorders. Learn about RED-S, sport-specific risk factors, male underscreening, and how confidential screening helps.
Parenting pressures can increase substance use risk. Learn how to privately evaluate your patterns without judgment and take the next step.
BPD symptoms typically emerge in late adolescence and early adulthood. Learn the early signs, how to distinguish them from normal development, and how screening helps.
75% of BPD diagnoses are in women, but community studies suggest equal prevalence. Learn about diagnostic gender bias, co-occurring conditions, and effective treatment.
Most adults with ADHD were not diagnosed in childhood. Learn the signs of adult ADHD, why it is often missed, and how the ASRS screening works.
Depression and anxiety share symptoms but have key differences. Learn what distinguishes them, how they overlap, and how each is identified and treated.
PHQ-9 scores range from 0–27. Learn what each score range means, how severity is classified, and what to do next based on your results.
GAD-7 scores range from 0–21. Learn what minimal, mild, moderate, and severe anxiety scores mean and when to seek professional support.
AUDIT scores range from 0–40. Learn what each score zone means, from low risk to possible dependence, and what steps to take based on your results.
Not sure if therapy is for you? These 10 signs suggest it may be time to talk to a mental health professional, and what to expect when you do.
The PHQ-9 is a 9-question validated depression screening tool. Learn how it works, what it measures, who developed it, and how to interpret results.
Talking to a doctor about mental health can feel daunting. Here’s exactly what to say, how to prepare, and what to expect, including how to use your screening results.
The PHQ-9 screens for depression, the GAD-7 for anxiety. Learn how they differ, when to take each, and why taking both together is often most useful.
Alcohol use disorder is a medical condition involving loss of control over drinking despite negative consequences. Learn the symptoms, risk factors, and evidence-based treatments.
Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by persistent, difficult-to-control worry about multiple areas of life. Learn the symptoms, causes, and treatments.
The ASRS-v1.1 screens for adult ADHD using 6 questions. Learn what a positive screen means, how the scoring works, and what to do with your results.
PCL-5 scores range from 0–80. Learn what each score threshold means, how PTSD severity is classified, and what to do after getting your results.
Anxiety is normal, but anxiety disorders are not just being worried. Learn the difference, how the main anxiety disorders are defined, and what evidence-based treatment looks like.
Finding a therapist is harder than it should be. Here’s a practical, step-by-step guide for finding one that fits your needs, budget, and insurance, without the runaround.
Poor sleep worsens mental health, and mental health conditions disrupt sleep. Learn how this bidirectional relationship works and what you can do to break the cycle.
Bipolar disorder is widely misunderstood and frequently misdiagnosed. Learn what it actually is, how bipolar I and II differ, and what evidence-based treatment looks like.
ADHD in adults often looks nothing like childhood ADHD. Learn the real symptoms of adult ADHD, why it’s so often missed, and what effective treatment looks like.
PC-PTSD-5 scores range from 0–5. A score of 3 or higher is a positive screen for PTSD. Learn what your result means and when to follow up with the full PCL-5.
ACE scores range from 0–10. Learn what your Adverse Childhood Experiences score means, how childhood trauma affects adult health, and what to do with your results.
CAGE-AID scores range from 0–4. A score of 2 or higher suggests a possible substance use problem. Learn what your result means and what steps to take next.
PSS-10 scores range from 0–40. Learn what your Perceived Stress Scale score means, what the score ranges indicate, and practical steps to take based on your results.
Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale scores range from 0–30. Learn what high and low scores mean, how self-esteem connects to mental health, and when to seek support.
OCD is widely misunderstood. It is not about being neat or particular. Learn what obsessive-compulsive disorder actually is, how it works, and what effective treatment looks like.
Social anxiety is more than shyness. Learn what social anxiety disorder actually is, how it differs from introversion, and what evidence-based treatments work.
Substance use disorder is a medical condition, not a moral failure. Learn what it is, how it’s diagnosed, what the warning signs are, and what treatment looks like.
Stigma is one of the biggest barriers to mental health care. Learn what mental health stigma is, where it comes from, how it causes harm, and what actually reduces it.
Supporting someone with depression, anxiety, PTSD, or another mental health condition can be hard to get right. Here’s what actually helps, and what to avoid.
Took a mental health screening and not sure what to do next? This guide explains what screening results mean, what they don’t mean, and your practical next steps.
Anxiety and panic attacks feel different and require different responses. Learn how to tell them apart, what causes each, and what to do when they happen.
Learn when to get screened for PTSD, how the PCL-5 and PC-PTSD-5 work, what different scores mean, and what treatment options are available.
Common signs of ADHD in adults, why it's underdiagnosed, especially in women, the three presentations, and how to get screened.
Understand the key differences between bipolar disorder and depression, why misdiagnosis happens, and which screening tools can help.
What OCD actually looks like beyond the stereotypes. Learn about subtypes, the anxiety cycle, ERP treatment, and how to recognize OCD symptoms.
Understand the 5 stages of change model for addiction recovery. Learn what helps at each stage and how relapse fits into the process.
Hour-by-hour and week-by-week timeline of what happens to your body after quitting alcohol. Includes critical safety warnings about withdrawal.
Learn about eating disorder types, warning signs, who is at risk, and how the SCOFF screening tool works. Includes helpline resources.
Step-by-step guide to building a relapse prevention plan. Learn the three stages of relapse, identify triggers, and create your coping toolkit.
Learn about 15 common cognitive distortions, how they fuel anxiety and depression, and how CBT can help you reframe them with examples.
What your ACE score means, how adverse childhood experiences affect health, and why resilience matters more than the number.
Is it introversion or social anxiety? Learn the key differences, symptoms, the SPIN screening tool, and when to seek professional help.
The loneliness epidemic is a public health crisis. Learn how chronic loneliness affects mental and physical health, and evidence-based strategies to help.
Learn the 4 DBT skill modules, mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness, in plain language.
Practical guidance for families dealing with a loved one's addiction. Learn about boundaries, enabling, self-care, and support resources.
Learn clinically validated anxiety coping strategies backed by NIH research. Discover cognitive-behavioral techniques, mindfulness practices, and lifestyle changes.
Complete guide to depression screening for adults. Learn how the PHQ-9 assessment works, understand USPSTF recommendations, and discover evidence-based treatment approaches.
What is seasonal affective disorder? Learn why it happens in winter, how light therapy works, why it differs from regular depression, and when to seek professional help.
The science behind the sleep-mood connection, why poor sleep worsens anxiety and depression, how to tell if sleep is affecting your mental health, and what to do about it.
Am I burned out or just stressed? The WHO-defined signs of clinical burnout vs. normal work stress, why online self-checks have limits, and when to talk to a professional.
Understanding the WHO's AUDIT alcohol screening questionnaire, its origins, how it's scored, and what your results mean in context.
A plain-language guide to the GAD-7, the world's most commonly used anxiety screener, what it catches, what it misses, and what to do with your results.
Learn what the PHQ-9 measures, how healthcare providers interpret scores, and why this widely-used screener is only a starting point, not a diagnosis.