Mental Wellbeing Screening
A PHQ-9 and GAD-7-style self-assessment for pre-session triage and progress tracking in Swiss psychotherapy practices. Rating questions for depression and anxiety symptoms, strictly confidential under Art. 321 StGB.
About this template
The Mental Wellbeing Screening Assessment is a structured self-report tool for Swiss psychotherapy and counselling practices. Inspired by validated instruments such as the PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire) and GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale), this digital form allows clients to report their current mental wellbeing before each session. The results give therapists a rapid snapshot for triage decisions and provide longitudinal data to track treatment progress over time.
What this form collects
- Client identifier and session date
- Mood and energy level self-ratings over the past two weeks
- Frequency of low mood, loss of interest and hopelessness indicators
- Anxiety, worry and physiological tension ratings
- Sleep quality and concentration self-assessment
- Functional impact on work and daily activities
- Safety screening for thoughts of self-harm
- Open comments for anything the client wishes to share
Clinical use only — not a diagnostic tool
This screening form is a clinical support instrument intended for use within an established therapeutic relationship. It does not replace a clinical diagnosis and must be interpreted by a qualified mental health professional. If a client indicates thoughts of self-harm, immediate clinical follow-up is required. All data is strictly confidential under Art. 321 StGB and the Swiss nFADP.
How to use this template
Use this template
Click 'Use template' to create a copy in your dashboard.
Customise the screening window
The default reference period is 'the past two weeks', aligned with PHQ-9 and GAD-7 conventions. Adjust if your protocol uses a different window.
Send before each session
Share the form link with your client before each session, or set up a recurring send.
Review and document
Review scores before the session begins and document any significant changes in the clinical record.
Mental wellbeing screening in Swiss psychotherapy: clinical and legal context
Routine outcome monitoring (ROM) — the systematic collection of client-reported wellbeing data at regular intervals — is increasingly standard practice in Swiss psychotherapy. Research consistently shows that therapists who use ROM tools achieve better outcomes: they identify deteriorating clients earlier, adjust their approach more responsively, and have more productive conversations about progress and goal alignment.
PHQ-9 and GAD-7: the evidence base
The PHQ-9 is a nine-item self-report questionnaire validated extensively across populations and translated into more than 80 languages including German, French and Italian. It assesses the frequency of nine depressive symptoms over the past two weeks on a 0-3 scale. The GAD-7 follows the same format for seven anxiety symptoms. Both instruments are in the public domain and widely used in Swiss primary care and specialist settings.
Safety screening and duty of care
Any screening tool used in a clinical context must include a safety check for thoughts of self-harm or suicide. Swiss therapists have a duty of care that requires them to assess and respond to risk disclosures. Where a client's screening response indicates risk, the therapist must follow their practice's risk protocol, which should include escalation pathways and documentation requirements.
Data protection for mental health screening data
Mental health data is among the most sensitive categories of personal data under Swiss law. The nFADP classifies health data as sensitive personal data (besonders schutzenswerte Personendaten), requiring enhanced protection measures including purpose limitation, access controls, and retention policies. Therapists using digital screening tools must ensure the platform meets these requirements.
Using screening data for progress tracking
When used consistently across sessions, screening scores can be visualised as a progress chart that both therapist and client can review together. This collaborative use of data strengthens the therapeutic alliance and provides objective markers for evaluating whether an intervention is working. Some Swiss insurance providers are beginning to require outcome data for reimbursement purposes.
Frequently asked questions
Can this form be used as a standalone diagnostic tool?
No. This form is a screening and monitoring instrument. Clinical diagnosis requires a comprehensive assessment by a qualified professional. A high score on the depression or anxiety items should prompt clinical follow-up, not automatic diagnosis.
How often should clients complete the screening?
Most ROM protocols recommend completion before every session or every second session. Some practices use a monthly check-in format. The key is consistency so that trends are meaningful.
What if a client does not want to complete the screening?
Participation should be voluntary. If a client declines, the therapist should note this and continue clinical assessment through other means.