This article was first published on 29 July 2020.
We take our body temperature to monitor our physical health and ensure that we are well during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, it is important for us to check our mental health regularly and keep ourselves mentally well.
COVID-19 can impact our mental health due to heightened stress and depression. Monitoring and acknowledging our mental health early help us to seek help and address our concerns before they become greater mental health issues such as severe depression.
This self-assessment tool, PHQ-9, is a validated and widely used tool worldwide to assess mood and severity of depression. Use this self-assessment tool to find out more about your current mood and what you can do to keep depression at bay. For people with depressive mood or depression, PHQ-9 helps you to monitor your response to treatment and chart your recovery process, allowing you to have greater control over your mental health.
Just like checking your temperature, you can schedule a self-assessment as and when you experience any emotional discomfort such as low mood or depressive symptoms, or regularly such as once every fortnight.

How to use it:
- Answer the questions based on how frequently you have experienced each statement (in the last 2 weeks) by circling your responses (e.g. 0,1,2,3);
- Total your scores for the PHQ-9 self-assessment tools and write them in the box;
- Refer to the recommendations at the end of the self-assessment tool based on your scores.
PHQ- 92
PHQ-9 Scores | Depression Severity | Recommended Actions |
0 – 4 | None-minimal |
View self-care tips here |
5 – 9 | Mild |
|
10 – 14 | Moderate |
|
15 – 19 | Moderately severe |
|
20 – 27 | Severe |
|
COVID-19 can impact our mental health due to heightened stress and depression.
If you are facing a mental health crisis and need urgent help, contact the following services to seek the necessary mental health support:
-
- Viriya Therapy Centre
Tel: 6256 13311 - IMH Mental Health Helpline
Tel: 6389 2222 - For immediate assistance, call 995
- Viriya Therapy Centre
For crisis and suicide intervention:
-
- Samaritans of Singapore (SOS)
Tel: 1-767
- Samaritans of Singapore (SOS)
This self-assessment tool and recommendations are provided for informational purposes only and are not meant to be substitutes for advice provided by a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing a health problem or mental health disorders. You should always consult with a doctor or other health care professionals for medical advice or information on diagnosis and treatment. If you have any concerns about your mood and mental health, you can speak to a clinical psychologist from Viriya Community Services by calling 6256 1311 or emailing psychsupport@viriya.org.sg.
The contributor is a Clinical Psychologist at Viriya Community Services.
Like this article? See also Infographic: Mental Health in Singapore.