Mental health surveys are a great way to understand how people are feeling and what kind of support they might need. Whether used in healthcare, research, workplaces, or schools, they help track trends, measure stress levels, and highlight gaps in resources. The key to an effective survey is asking the right questions - ones that encourage honest answers and provide real insights. In this article, we’ll break down what mental health surveys are, the different types out there, and the must-ask questions to include.
What is a mental health survey?
Mental health refers to a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how individuals think, feel, and behave, as well as how they handle stress, relate to others, and make decisions.
Mental health surveys are tools designed to assess well-being at both an individual and group level. They gather insights on mood, stress, anxiety, and coping mechanisms, helping to identify patterns, track changes over time, and guide personal care plans or broader health initiatives.
Beyond individual assessments, these surveys play a key role in research, policy-making, and public health planning. By tracking mental health trends across larger groups, they help identify concerns, shape policies, and improve support systems.
Organizations also use mental health surveys to address specific challenges within their communities. In schools, for instance, student check-in surveys help monitor well-being trends and identify those who may need additional support. While these surveys provide valuable insights, they are meant to inform and guide - not replace - professional diagnosis or treatment.
Types of mental health surveys
Screening & assessment surveys
These surveys help identify potential mental health conditions, assess symptom severity, and guide next steps for diagnosis or treatment. They use standardized tools that provide measurable scores.
PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) – Used for depression screening.
GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7) – Assesses symptoms of anxiety.
DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale) – Measures emotional distress.
Epidemiological surveys
Conducted on a large scale to study the prevalence of mental health conditions, risk factors, and societal trends. Used by researchers and public health organizations.
National Comorbidity Survey (NCS) – Examines mental illness prevalence.
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) – Includes mental health indicators.
Quality of life & well-being surveys
Measures overall mental well-being, happiness, and emotional resilience. Often used in healthcare, wellness programs, and research studies.
WHO-5 Well-Being Index – Measures subjective well-being.
Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) – Assesses life satisfaction.
Workplace mental health surveys
Helps organizations assess employee stress, burnout, and job satisfaction to improve workplace mental health initiatives.
Helps schools assess students’ mental well-being, identify early warning signs of stress or disorders, and implement support programs.
Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) – Assesses emotional and behavioral difficulties in children.
School Climate Survey – Evaluates school environment and student well-being.
Example questions for mental health surveys
Demographic assessment questions
Demographic questions form the foundation of any mental health survey, providing context for interpreting responses and identifying potential risk factors associated with specific population segments.
What is your age? (Under 18, 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45 or older)
What is your gender? (Male, Female, Other, Prefer not to say)
Comprehensive mental health screening questions
These general questions assess overall mental health status and potential concerns.
Do you feel your mental health affects your daily life?
How frequently do you feel sad, depressed, and hopeless?
Have you been diagnosed with any mental health conditions?
How would you rate your overall mental health?
Depression screening questions
Depression screening tools help identify symptoms of depressive disorders:
How often have you been bothered by feeling down, depressed, irritable, or hopeless during the past two weeks? (Not at all, Several days, More than half the days, Nearly every day)
How often have you been bothered by little interest or pleasure in doing things during the past two weeks?
How often have you been bothered by trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping too much?
Anxiety assessment questions
Anxiety screening tools measure symptoms associated with anxiety disorders.
Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by feeling nervous, anxious or on edge? (Not at all, Several days, More than half the days, Nearly every day)
Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by not being able to stop or control worrying?
Do you often feel on edge, or keyed up, or mentally tense?
Have you had times when you felt shaky, or your heart pounded, or you felt sweaty and you simply had to do something about it?
Do you have any special fears, like some people are scared of cats, spiders, or birds?
Emotional well-being questions
These questions assess general emotional states and feelings of psychological wellness beyond clinical symptoms.
How often have you felt overwhelmed in the past month? (Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Often, Always)
Do you feel that you have control over your emotions for most of the time?
How often do you feel lonely or isolated?
Have you experienced any of the following in the past month? (Select all that apply: Persistent sadness or hopelessness, Anxiety or excessive worry, Panic attacks, Suicidal thoughts, None of the above)
Stress assessment questions
Stress assessment questions evaluate perceived stress levels and identify potential stressors in various life domains.
Do you ever feel stressed about your performance?
How often do you struggle with managing your time?
Have you experienced physical symptoms of anxiety, such as racing heart or sweating palms?
Do you find it difficult to cope with unexpected changes or challenges that happen in your life?
Coping strategies questions
These questions assess how individuals manage stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.
Which of the following have you used to cope with stress or negative feelings in the past month? (Select all that apply: Exercise, Talking to a friend or family member, Meditation or mindfulness practices, Watching TV or movies, Substance use (alcohol, drugs), Other)
How effective have your coping strategies been in managing stress or negative feelings? (Not effective at all, Somewhat effective, Moderately effective, Very effective, Extremely effective)
What are the strategies that you have to manage stress and anxiety?
Are the coping mechanisms successful in keeping you sane?
Social functioning questions
Social functioning questions evaluate interpersonal relationships and social engagement patterns.
Do you find it difficult to start conversations with others?
Have you faced challenges in forming or maintaining friendships?
How often do you feel anxious in social situations or interactions?
Do you ever feel isolated or disconnected from the people around you?
How comfortable are you expressing your thoughts and feelings in social settings?
Self-esteem and body image questions
These questions assess perceptions of self-worth and body satisfaction.
How would you rate your self-esteem on a scale of 1-10?
Are you satisfied with your physical appearance?
Do you tend to feel confident when you dress up the way you want?
Have you ever felt the pressure to change yourself to fit in?
Personal growth and development questions
Personal growth questions explore activities that contribute to psychological well-being and personal development.
What activities or hobbies bring you joy and fulfillment?
How do you nurture your personal growth and development?
Have you set personal goals for your mental health and well-being?
Do you practice mindfulness or meditation to enhance your mental clarity?
How do you handle setbacks or challenges in your personal growth journey?
Help-seeking behavior questions
These questions assess willingness to seek professional support and knowledge of available resources.
Do you know where to find mental health support if you need it? (Yes, No)
Have you sought help for mental health issues in the past? (Yes, No)
If you answered yes to the previous question, what resources did you use? (Select all that apply: Therapy or counseling services, Medication prescribed by a doctor, Support groups, Online resources or self-help materials)
On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your overall mental health in the past month? (1-very poor to 10-excellent)
How comfortable do you feel talking to someone about your mental health concerns? (Not at all comfortable – Very comfortable)
Population-specific mental health questions
Mental health assessments are specifically designed for different populations and contexts, such as students or workplace settings. They are crucial for understanding and supporting individuals' well-being in these environments.
Academic stress and student well-being questions
How anxious do you feel about the academic expectations placed on you?
Do you feel overwhelmed by the workload from school?
Have you experienced feelings of inadequacy or imposter syndrome in academics?
Do you feel peer pressure in the academic environment?
Workplace mental health questions
Have you received any training or resources on mental health awareness in the workplace?
What resources and policies does your organization dedicate to mental health?
Have you ever avoided seeking mental health care due to concerns about stigma or professional repercussions?
How often do you experience burnout or emotional exhaustion due to your work?
How to conduct a mental health survey?
Conducting a mental health survey requires thoughtful planning and ethical considerations. The first step is to define your goal—what do you want to learn, and who is your target audience? A clear objective helps shape everything from question design to survey distribution.
Choosing the right questions is crucial.
Open-ended questions provide detailed insights, while multiple-choice questions offer structured responses. Likert-scale questions work well for measuring attitudes, capturing subtle differences in perspectives. Other formats, like ranking scales or matrix-style questions, help compare priorities or related topics.
Clarity is key when crafting questions. They should be simple, free from technical jargon, and culturally appropriate—especially if the survey will be used across different regions or languages. It’s also important to balance detail with engagement; too many questions can lead to survey fatigue, reducing the quality of responses. A pilot test with a small group can help identify unclear wording, confusing questions, or unintended bias before the survey is fully launched.
Survey implementation depends on scale
Large surveys may require trained field data collectors, while smaller ones can be distributed online. However, accessibility must be considered to ensure diverse participation.
Ethical safeguards are essential
Ethical considerations should guide the entire process. Questions must be relevant and sensitive, avoiding unnecessary distress for participants. Researchers also need a plan for handling disclosures of mental health concerns. If a participant shares something serious, what happens next? The level of responsibility depends on factors like the study’s risk level and whether participants rely on researchers for care access. Having ethical safeguards, including treatment referrals when needed, ensures the survey is conducted responsibly and meaningfully.
Create a mental health survey with QuestionScout
To help you get started, here’s a sample mental health survey template for employees:
QuestionScout simplifies survey building with its customizable form builder, making it easy to create engaging, user-friendly, and insightful surveys.:
Flexible question types – Use multiple-choice, Likert scales, ranking, and open-ended questions for diverse insights.
Branding & accessibility – Customize colors, fonts, and layouts while ensuring surveys are easy to access.
Conversational forms – Create a more interactive experience with one-question-at-a-time formats.
Smart conditional logic – Adapt questions based on responses for a more relevant and streamlined survey.
Mobile & multi-platform support – Easily share via email, social media, or embedded links.
Real-time data & insights – Instantly analyze responses or export data for deeper reporting.
