Google invites US users to check if they’re clinically depressed

‘Google is offering a screening questionnaire to determine if people are clinically depressed, sparking fears the tech giant may seek to capitalize on its users’ mental health.
The new feature, developed in conjunction with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), will be fully rolled out on mobile in the US in the coming days.
When users search the term, a ‘knowledge panel’ offering information on the disorder will appear along with an option to “check if you’re clinically depressed,” according to a Google blog post.
The clinically validated PHQ-9 questionnaire will assess an individual’s likely level of depression and the need for an in-person evaluation. The self-assessment is private and is intended to steer people who need help to their doctor for further discussion.
The introduction of a mental health self-assessment tool marks a first for the search giant.
Vidushi Tekriwal, Google’s product manager, told the Financial Times that questionnaire responses would not be recorded or stored and Google would not target advertising at users based on their answers.’
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