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Screens for severe distress signals that may warrant urgent professional support.
If you are wondering whether what you are feeling has crossed into crisis territory, this short screen can help you name it clearly. It asks about severe distress signals — like feeling out of control, unable to function, or unsafe — so you can decide whether now is the moment to reach out for urgent support. If you are in immediate danger, please contact emergency services or a crisis line right away rather than waiting for your result.
Clinical screening — not a diagnosis. Answer based on the past two weeks unless stated otherwise.
This screen asks about five severe distress signals — thoughts of harming yourself or others, inability to manage daily needs, perceptual disturbances, feeling detached from reality, and rapidly worsening symptoms — that can indicate a mental health crisis. It is a crisis-awareness tool, not a clinical intake assessment, and it exists to help you recognize when symptoms have reached a level that needs urgent professional attention. It is intended for anyone concerned about their own safety or functioning right now, not for casual self-assessment.
Research background. A crisis-awareness screen only. If you are in danger, call emergency services or 988 (US) immediately. Learn more from the NIMH or APA.
Educational use only. This assessment on Ask.Dr is for self-reflection and learning — not a medical diagnosis, treatment plan, or emergency service. If you are in crisis, contact local emergency services or, in the US, call or text 988. Explore more tools on the tests hub or read articles on the blog.