Licensed Ontario healthcare professionals
Every assessment is reviewed by a healthcare professional licensed in Ontario, trained in health conditions prescribing.
C
Care365
Ontario Virtual Care
Depression (PHQ-9) Treatment Online — Ontario Virtual Care
See a licensed healthcare professional online for depression (phq-9) — no waiting room, no travel.
This assessment uses the PHQ-9, a validated 9-question screening tool for depression, with a real, fully-summed 0-27 score calculated from your answers and banded using the instrument's own validated severity cutoffs — not a proxy or approximation. Suicide risk is screened before anything else, and any history of mania is checked before an antidepressant is considered.
Licensed Ontario healthcare professionals
Same-day review
Prescriptions sent directly
CCare365
Care365 workflowComplete assessment → clinical review → prescription sent when appropriate.
Quick Self-Check
Answer a few quick questions. This isn't a diagnosis — a real clinical assessment is the next step either way.
How We Work
Every PHQ-9 item you answer is summed into an actual score and banded (Minimal 0-4, Mild 5-9, Moderate 10-14, Moderately severe 15-19, Severe 20-27). Any positive safety screen item gets a same-encounter response regardless of score, with active current thoughts of self-harm treated as an emergency. A history suggestive of mania is referred before starting an antidepressant, to avoid triggering mania in unrecognized bipolar disorder. Based on your real score and band, you may be offered an SSRI, psychotherapy, or both.
Complete a short online assessment
Answer real, condition-specific questions — takes a few minutes, no appointment needed to start.
A licensed clinical reviews your answers
A real healthcare professional licensed in Ontario reviews your case, typically the same day — not an automated approval.
Get your treatment plan
When appropriate, your prescription is sent directly to your preferred pharmacy, with clear next steps.
Why Choose Care365?
Fast, Real Assessments
No generic templates — your answers are reviewed by a real person, typically the same day.
Secure & Private
Your information is encrypted and only seen by the clinical reviewing your case.
Prescriptions Sent Directly
When appropriate, your prescription goes straight to your preferred pharmacy — no extra trip needed.
Common Symptoms
- Little interest or pleasure in doing things you normally enjoy
- Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless most days
- Trouble sleeping, or sleeping much more than usual
- Fatigue or low energy most of the day
- Trouble concentrating on things like reading or conversation
Treatment Options
These options may be prescribed by a Care365 healthcare professional after a real assessment — this is general information, not a recommendation to use any specific medication without one.
| Medication | Class | Route | Typical Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sertraline | SSRI | Oral | Per healthcare professional plan |
| Escitalopram | SSRI | Oral | Per healthcare professional plan |
Non-medication options
- Sleep, exercise, and routine — Regular sleep, physical activity, and daily routine support mood alongside any other treatment.
Everything in One Place
- Easy online scheduling — submit your assessment in minutes
- Real clinical review, not an automated approval
- Prescriptions sent directly to your preferred pharmacy when appropriate
- 100% virtual — no travel, no waiting room
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PHQ-9?
The PHQ-9 is a validated 9-question screening tool for depression. Your answers are summed into a real 0-27 score, banded into Minimal, Mild, Moderate, Moderately severe, or Severe using the instrument's own validated cutoffs.
What if I'm having thoughts of harming myself?
This is asked about directly and treated as an emergency regardless of your overall score. If you're in crisis right now, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada's Suicide Crisis Helpline) or go to your nearest emergency department.
Will I automatically be prescribed an antidepressant?
No — treatment follows your actual score and band. Severe or moderately-severe scores typically support starting an SSRI alongside a psychotherapy referral, moderate scores support either by preference, and mild scores favour watchful waiting or psychotherapy first.
Why do you ask about mania before an antidepressant?
An antidepressant given without recognizing underlying bipolar disorder can trigger a manic episode, so this is always checked and referred separately if present.
How is my progress tracked?
Your PHQ-9 is re-scored at follow-up (typically 4-6 weeks) to track objective change, with suicidal thoughts asked about at every visit, especially early in a new antidepressant or after a dose change.
Depression (PHQ-9) Can Be Treated
Complete a real assessment online — a licensed Ontario clinical reviews your case and arranges treatment and prescription support when appropriate.
Start My Free Assessment