You may have noticed that when you Google “depression” or “clinical depression,” you’ll see a Knowledge Panel for the condition which shows general information about it, symptoms and possible treatment options.
On Wednesday, Google announced the release of a built-in quiz that will also be included for mobile search results in the United States, to help people determine if they are clinically depressed. It has been added to the Knowledge Panel as a simple one-click option.
The test, PHQ-9, is a clinically validated questionnaire to test your likely level of depression. It was developed by Google in partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Health as a way to assess patients’ symptoms, make information easier to access and serve as the first step in getting a proper diagnosis. Google has disclosed that the screening is not a diagnosis, but rather a starting point to determine if someone may need professional help.
“Clinical depression is a very common condition—in fact, approximately one in five Americans experience an episode in their lifetime,” Mary Giliberti, CEO of the National Alliance on Mental Health, wrote on Google’s blog. “However, despite its prevalence, only about 50 percent of people who suffer from depression actually receive treatment. To help raise awareness of this condition, we’ve teamed up with Google to help provide more direct access to tools and information to people who may be suffering.”
Google confirmed that it would not store users’ responses, as all related information was “sensitive and private.”
According to another Google blog post, one in 20 searches are for health-related questions. This is why, in early 2015, Google launched Knowledge Blocks with information for more than 400 health and medical conditions into its mobile search results. The recent release of the questionnaire is just one more reason for people to spend longer amounts of time on search results.