Privacy Policy

What data do we collect from the self-check tools?

None. All scoring and result calculations happen entirely in your browser using client-side JavaScript. Your responses to any questionnaire on this site — including the PHQ-9, GAD-7, AUDIT, and AUDIT-C — are processed locally on your device. No answer data is ever sent to our servers or any third-party server.

We have deliberately built our tools this way because we believe that mental health screening should be private. There is no technical mechanism on this site that captures, logs, or transmits your questionnaire responses.

Do you use cookies?

We use a single localStorage entry to remember your dark mode preference (light or dark theme). This is stored only on your device and is never transmitted to us.

The following third-party services may set cookies on this site:

• Cookiebot (CBID: a9a99ccb-4863-4e33-a895-a6d5642f408d) — our consent management platform. Stores your cookie consent preferences. Required for GDPR and CCPA compliance.
• Google Analytics (GA4) — anonymized usage analytics. Measurement ID: G-XKHQN1NJ2Z.
• Google AdSense — advertising. On health screening pages, we use non-personalized ads that do not use behavioral targeting or health-related data for ad selection. Ads are never placed adjacent to crisis resources.

You can manage your cookie preferences at any time through the Cookiebot consent banner or your browser settings.

What data is collected through analytics and advertising?

We use Google Analytics (GA4) and Google AdSense, which may automatically collect the following categories of information through cookies and standard web protocols:

• Device and browser information: browser type, operating system, screen resolution, device type
• Network information: IP address (anonymized by GA4 by default), approximate geographic location (city/region level, not precise)
• Usage data: pages visited, time on page, referral URLs, click interactions
• Cookie identifiers: anonymous identifiers set by Google Analytics, Google AdSense, and Cookiebot (our consent management platform)

None of this data includes your screening answers, scores, or results. Screening data never leaves your browser and is never accessible to analytics or advertising systems.

You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on (available at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout) or by using a browser extension that blocks tracking scripts.

Current status: Google Analytics (measurement ID: G-XKHQN1NJ2Z) is active.

Do you collect personal information?

We do not require accounts, registration, email addresses, or any personal information to use our tools. If you contact us voluntarily (e.g., via email for feedback), we will receive whatever information you choose to share in that message. We will not use it for marketing or share it with third parties.

Data retention

We retain data for the minimum period necessary:

• Screening answers and scores: Not retained. Never leaves your browser. Deleted when you close or refresh the page.
• Cookie consent preferences: 12 months (managed by Cookiebot, stored on your device).
• Google Analytics data: 14 months (Google's default GA4 retention period), then automatically deleted.
• Contact emails: Retained only as long as necessary to respond to your inquiry, then deleted.
• Dark mode preference: Stored in your browser's localStorage indefinitely until you clear browser data.

Advertising

This site uses Google AdSense (publisher ID: ca-pub-7171402107622932) to display advertisements that support free access to all tools.

Health data is never passed to advertising systems. Your screening answers, scores, and results are processed entirely in your browser and are never accessible to Google AdSense or any other advertising platform. On health screening pages, we use non-personalized ads that do not rely on behavioral profiling or health-related data for ad targeting.

Ads are never placed adjacent to crisis resources (988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Crisis Text Line, SAMHSA Helpline). We will never place ads in a way that exploits distress or interferes with access to help.

Reflection summaries

Our screening tools offer a "Download Reflection Summary" feature that generates a summary of your results as an HTML file. This summary is generated entirely in your browser using client-side JavaScript. MindCheck Tools does not receive, store, or transmit your answers, scores, or reflection summaries. The file is created locally on your device and saved directly to your downloads folder.

Third-party links

Our site may link to external resources such as crisis hotlines, professional organizations, and educational materials. These external sites have their own privacy policies. We are not responsible for their content or data practices, but we only link to resources we believe are reputable.

Children's privacy

Our tools are designed for adults. We do not knowingly collect any information from children under 13. Since we collect no personal data from any user, there is no mechanism through which we could inadvertently collect children's data through our tools. If you are a parent or guardian and have concerns, please contact us.

Data security

Because we do not collect or store your questionnaire responses, there is no database of user answers to protect. Our site is served over HTTPS, and we follow standard security practices for web applications including security headers, content security policies, and regular dependency updates.

Your rights

Depending on where you live, you have specific rights regarding your personal data:

GDPR (EEA/UK residents)

Under the General Data Protection Regulation, you have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict processing, data portability, and object to processing of your personal data. Our lawful basis for processing analytics data is legitimate interest; for advertising cookies, we rely on consent obtained through our Cookiebot consent management platform.

GDPR Article 9 — Special category data: Health data is classified as special category data under Article 9 of the GDPR, requiring explicit consent for processing. Because all screening results on MindCheck Tools are processed entirely in your browser and never transmitted to our servers, we do not process health data as a data controller. No health-related data is shared with third parties, including advertising systems.

Washington My Health My Data Act (MHMDA)

Under Washington's My Health My Data Act, consumers have the right to know what health data is collected, the right to withdraw consent, and the right to have health data deleted. MindCheck Tools does not collect, store, or share health data — all screening results are processed client-side in your browser and are never transmitted to our servers or any third party.

Maryland Online Data Privacy Act (MODPA — effective October 2025)

Maryland's MODPA prohibits the sale of health data and requires heightened protections for sensitive data. MindCheck Tools does not sell any personal data, including health data. Screening results are never collected, stored, or shared.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@mindchecktools.com. We will respond within 30 days (GDPR). For California privacy rights, see the dedicated section below.

California Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) grants you specific rights regarding your personal information. This section describes those rights and how to exercise them. These rights are effective as of January 1, 2026.

Information We Collect

In the past 12 months we have collected the following categories of personal information:

• Identifiers: IP address, browser type, device identifiers collected via analytics.
• Internet or network activity: Pages visited, time on site, referring URLs.
• Inferred data: Interests or preferences inferred from browsing behavior via advertising partners.

Sensitive Personal Information

As of January 1, 2026, California law defines an expanded category of sensitive personal information. MindCheck Tools does not knowingly collect sensitive personal information as defined under CPRA, which includes: precise geolocation data, racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, union membership, contents of private communications, genetic data, biometric data, health or medical information, or sexual orientation. Mental health screening responses entered into our tools are processed entirely client-side and are never transmitted to our servers, stored, or shared with any third party including advertising systems.

Data Minimization

We collect only the minimum personal information necessary to operate this service. We do not collect personal information beyond what is reasonably necessary and proportionate to the purposes disclosed in this policy.

How We Use Your Information

• To display advertising through Google AdSense (non-personalized ads are used on health screening pages)
• To analyze site traffic and improve user experience via analytics
• To maintain site security and prevent fraud

We do not sell your personal information. We do not share your personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising without your consent.

Your Rights as a California Resident

• Right to Know: You may request disclosure of the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you in the past 12 months.
• Right to Delete: You may request deletion of personal information we have collected, subject to certain exceptions.
• Right to Correct: You may request correction of inaccurate personal information we maintain about you.
• Right to Opt-Out: You may opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information. We do not sell personal information. You may also opt out via a Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal from your browser, which we honor automatically.
• Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Information: You may direct us to limit our use and disclosure of sensitive personal information to purposes necessary to provide the service.
• Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of these rights.

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

We do not sell personal information. To opt out of sharing for advertising purposes, you may use a Global Privacy Control (GPC)-enabled browser. Our Consent Management Platform (Cookiebot) also provides granular consent controls.

How to Submit a Request

To exercise your California privacy rights, contact us via the Contact page. We will respond within 45 days. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

Data Retention

Analytics data is retained for 26 months and then deleted. We do not retain mental health screening responses — all processing is client-side only. Server logs are retained for 90 days for security purposes.

Additional U.S. State Privacy Rights

Residents of the following states have privacy rights similar to California's CCPA/CPRA. To exercise your rights, contact us via the Contact page. We will respond within the timeframe required by your state's law.

We honor Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals from all states that require it. We do not sell personal information to third parties. We do not engage in targeted advertising using sensitive personal information.

Related policies

For more details, see our Cookie Policy (what cookies we use, how to manage them) and Terms of Use (legal disclaimers, GDPR rights, CCPA rights, limitation of liability).

Changes to this policy

If we make material changes to this privacy policy — particularly if we begin collecting any data we do not currently collect — we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. For significant changes, we will also add a notice on the homepage.

Contact

If you have questions about this privacy policy or how our tools work, you can reach us at:

Email: privacy@mindchecktools.com