Google has come up with a screening test to find out whether you’re suffering from clinical depression or not. But this service will be limited to US residents only. When the users in the US will search ‘depression’ on Google, they will see a box atop the results on mobile. It is known as a Knowledge Panel, according to the reports by Verge on Wednesday.
The Knowledge Panel contains information on what depression is, what its symptoms are and the possible treatments.
"The update adds the option to tap on 'check if you're clinically depressed' and take a clinically validated screening questionnaire called PHQ-9. The self-assessment is private and is meant to help steer people who might be depressed toward in-person evaluations," the report noted.
According to Google spokesperson Susan Cadrecha, the feature is being rolled out on mobile in the US soon and it is not meant to subvert a medical evaluation.
"The results of the PHQ-9 can help you have a more informed conversation with your doctor," according to National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), which partnered with Google on the questionnaire.
According to NAMI, clinical depression is common condition with almost one in five Americans experiencing the symptoms in their life. But only 50% of people who have clinical depression get a suitable treatment for it.
(With IANS Inputs)
