National Depression Screening Day

October 9th is National Depression Screening Day, recognized each year as part of a broader campaign to promote mental health awareness. The timing is no coincidence — with shorter days, cooler temperatures, and changing leaves, October slows us down and draws us indoors.  Before we settle into our seasonal routines and, for many, a version of hibernation, we have an opportunity to pause and consider depression and other mental health conditions, what signs we should all be looking out for in ourselves or in our loved ones.

One of the most widely used screening tools for depression in both adults and youth is the PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9). This brief and straightforward questionnaire is often included in the paperwork at annual well visits with a primary care provider. Originally developed for adults 18 and over, there's also a modified version available for adolescents, typically administered starting at age 12.

While tools like the PHQ-9 can be incredibly helpful in bringing mental health into focus, it's important to recognize their limitations. A single snapshot, especially one taken just once a year, may not capture the full picture of someone’s emotional well-being. External factors on the day of the screening --whether someone skipped breakfast, has had a particularly stressful day, is experiencing hormonal shifts, or is simply reacting to gloomy weather-- can all skew responses and outcomes.

In addition to those momentary influences, there’s also the issue of interpretation. How a person understands and answers the questions can vary widely. Some individuals have lived with depression for so long that they’ve come to see it as their "normal.” 

Take, for example, the question assessing "Little interest or pleasure in doing things?" For someone deep in the daily grind — managing responsibilities like work or raising kids — life may feel mundane, but not necessarily unfulfilling. That nuance can be hard to reflect in a checkbox, and most general practitioners don’t have the time to verbally hash out the meaning of each question and response.

Or: "Trouble falling asleep or sleeping too much?" Many teenagers, in particular, have poor sleep hygiene, often staying up late studying or socializing, which makes it harder to separate mental health concerns from common lifestyle habits.

According to the CDC, suicide is the second leading cause of death for individuals ages 10 to 34. With such a staggering statistic, it stands to reason that routine depression screenings should begin much earlier, perhaps even as early as age 10.  And yet, while children are required to take standardized tests in elementary school, they often won’t encounter their first depression screening until middle school. After calling several local pediatric offices, the youngest age any of them reported routinely administering the PHQ-9 was beginning at 11; most started at age 12.

October 9th may come and go, just like an annual wellness check, but tools like the PHQ-9 are available anytime you feel the need. You can access the screening here: PHQ-9 Depression Test.  More importantly, each of us can take a moment to reflect on the signs—both in ourselves and in the people we care about—that indicate when things aren't quite right and a depression may be taking hold. With a clear understanding of what to look for and with the right supports in place, we can recognize and address depression both in ourselves and in our loved ones.