Depression Check — Detailed

CES-D (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale)

⏱ 5–8 min 20 questions Free · Private

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About this check

The CES-D is a 20-question depression scale developed by the US National Institute of Mental Health. It looks at depressive symptoms over the past week, including some positive items that are reverse-scored. It is widely used in community and research settings.

Important: This is a screener, not a diagnosis. The CES-D catches depressive symptoms more broadly than the PHQ-9 but does not include a self-harm item, so it is not used for safety screening.

What your score means

Below clinical threshold · score 0–15

Your score is below the CES-D cutoff traditionally used to flag likely depression. That does not mean nothing is hard — it means, by this scale, you are below the line where most research would call the pattern "clinically significant".

Possible depression · score 16–26

Your score is at or above 16 — the cutoff researchers use to flag possible depression. Many people in this range find their mood is clearly affecting daily life.

Likely depression (severe) · score 27–60

Your score is well above the cutoff and suggests severe depressive symptoms over the last week.

How it works

During the past week, how often did the following apply to you?

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If you are in crisis: Please call Tele-MANAS 14416 (free, 24/7, many Indian languages) or 112 for emergencies. You can also reach iCall, Vandrevala Foundation, or AASRA.