Depression Self-Assessment for Scam Victims
Mental Health Assessment · Adapted from PHQ-9 Clinical Framework
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The SCARS Institute provides this tool to help you notice patterns consistent with depression following a scam experience, and to decide whether extra support would help. You can save it to share the results with your therapist or mental health professional.
About This Assessment
This assessment is adapted from the PHQ-9 clinical framework — one of the most widely used and validated tools in mental health screening — and extended to include trauma-specific symptoms that are common in scam victims.
Reflect on the past two weeks as you answer each question. A pattern of responses matters more than any single score. This assessment covers six areas: core mood changes, cognitive and emotional impact, physical changes, behavioural changes, trauma-specific amplifiers, and a critical safety section.
Important — Section 6: This assessment includes a short safety section with questions about thoughts of self-harm or not wanting to live. If you score anything above 0 on those questions, the assessment will direct you immediately to crisis support. Please answer honestly — these questions exist because your safety matters.
Please Note. This assessment was developed by the SCARS Institute based on the PHQ-9 clinical framework, adapted for scam victims. It does not diagnose depression or any other condition — it identifies patterns that warrant professional attention. Clinical diagnosis requires evaluation beyond self-report. We strongly recommend sharing these results with a mental health professional.
Why we ask this
