Screening check
Should my teen be screened for depression?
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among US youth aged 10 to 19. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening all adolescents aged 12 to 18 for major depression. Check what it says for your child.
About your child
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What you will see
What the USPSTF says about depression screening for your child.
Educational only, not medical advice. This is not a depression test and cannot tell whether your child is depressed.
Source
US Preventive Services Task Force, October 2022 recommendation on screening for depression and suicide risk in children and adolescents.
Validated in
Children and adolescents 18 or younger without a diagnosed mental health condition and without recognized signs or symptoms of depression or suicide risk.
Limits
It is not a depression questionnaire. It covers major depressive disorder, not minor depression or dysthymia, and not youth already diagnosed or showing signs.
What the USPSTF recommends
| Who | Recommendation | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Adolescents aged 12 to 18 | Screen for major depressive disorder | B |
| Children 11 or younger | Evidence is insufficient to weigh the benefits and harms of screening for depression | I |
| Children and adolescents | Evidence is insufficient to weigh the benefits and harms of screening for suicide risk | I |
This matches the earlier 2016 depression and 2014 suicide risk recommendations. The USPSTF found no evidence on how often to screen; repeat screening may be most useful in teens with risk factors, and screening at any visit may suit teens who rarely see a clinician (USPSTF 2022). A first screen may be followed by more questions or a formal diagnostic interview (USPSTF 2022).
Why it matters
Depression is a leading cause of disability in the US. In children and teens it typically affects school or work and relationships with family and friends, and it is strongly linked to depression again in adulthood, other mental disorders and a higher risk of suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and suicide (USPSTF 2022). All adolescents are at risk, but risk factors include a family history of depression, a prior episode, other mental health or behavioral problems, childhood abuse or neglect, traumatic events, bullying (as perpetrator or victim), adverse life events, early stress and a difficult relationship with parents (USPSTF 2022).
Why screening is recommended from 12
No studies compared screened with unscreened youth. The USPSTF linked evidence on screening tool accuracy with 13 treatment trials and concluded with moderate certainty that screening adolescents aged 12 to 18 has a moderate net benefit (USPSTF 2022). Across 7 accuracy studies, sensitivity ranged from 0.59 to 0.94 and specificity from 0.38 to 0.97, varying by tool and cutoff (USPSTF 2022). For children 11 or younger, and for suicide risk screening at any age, evidence is lacking, so the balance cannot be determined (USPSTF 2022).
Common questions
Which tools are used?
The most common in practice is the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Longer tools that have been studied include the PHQ modified for adolescents (PHQ-A) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Many depression tools include at least one question about suicidal thoughts (USPSTF 2022). The PHQ-9 on this site is written for adults.
How is depression treated?
With medicine, talk therapy, collaborative care and psychosocial support. Cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy have the most evidence. Fluoxetine is the only FDA-approved medicine for depression in children 8 or older, and escitalopram is approved for ages 12 to 17 (USPSTF 2022). The FDA has a boxed warning asking that anyone starting an antidepressant be watched closely for worsening, suicidality or unusual changes in behavior (USPSTF 2022). Youth, their parents or guardians and the clinician should decide on treatment together (USPSTF 2022).
Does being asked about suicide cause harm?
Two trials (2,675 youth) compared short-term distress in those screened for suicide risk with those not screened and found no significant difference. No studies reported on labeling, stigma or overmedication from screening (USPSTF 2022).
What do other groups recommend?
The Guidelines for Adolescent Depression in Primary Care (GLAD-PC), supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend yearly depression screening from age 12. A youth suicide prevention blueprint from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and National Institute of Mental Health experts recommends universal suicide risk screening from 12, and for ages 8 to 11 when clinically indicated (USPSTF 2022).
Also see the child anxiety screening check, the eating disorder screening check and all screening tests by age.
Sources
- US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for Depression and Suicide Risk in Children and Adolescents: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2022;328(15):1534-1542. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/screening-depression-suicide-risk-children-adolescents
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Call, text or chat 988; available 24/7, free and confidential. 988lifeline.org/
Written and maintained by the uncovermyrisk.com editorial team. We do not have a medical reviewer; every claim links to its primary source above. Last reviewed: 2026-10-30. Spotted an error? See About.