Is CheckMentalHealth.in really free?+
Yes — completely free, 24×7. All 21 clinically validated screenings, the AI Psychologist chat, the Cognitive Regulation tools, the personalised 3-step plan, the conditions library and the confidential referral PDF are 100% free, with no sign-up and no payment.
Is the screening a real medical test?+
We use the same clinically validated instruments your doctor would — PHQ-9, GAD-7, PSS-10, ISI, ASRS-v1.1, PC-PTSD-5, WHO-5, AUDIT-C, OCI-R, K10, EPDS, DAST-10, PSWQ-8, Mini-SPIN, UCLA-3, SCOFF, PCL-5, MDQ, EAT-26, MBI-short and ACE. Scores map to standard severity bands. They indicate likelihood; a formal diagnosis still requires a qualified clinician.
What is the personalised 3-step plan?+
After every screening (and on request inside chat), our AI generates a 3-action plan calibrated to your specific severity band — typically one Cognitive Regulation exercise to do today, one deeper resource to read, and the right next move (continue in chat, take a related screening, or book Dr. Sodhi). It's tailored to you, not a generic list.
Is there something for psychologists too?+
Yes. The AI Mentor for Mental-Health Professionals is a separate, peer-level mentor for practising clinicians, psychiatrists, counsellors and trainees — case formulation, instrument lookup with exact cut-offs, Cognitive Regulation coaching, and ethics support. It's free, 24×7, and built on Dr. Sodhi's clinical mentorship protocols.
Who is Dr. Nitnem Singh Sodhi?+
Dr. Sodhi is a Mental Health Counsellor, Neuropsychologist & Psychotherapist with 15+ combined years (9+ years as Forensic Psychologist with Uttar Pradesh Police, then 6+ years of clinical practice). He is an International Member of the American Psychological Association as a Clinical Neuropsychologist since 2021, holds a Fellowship in Clinical Psychiatry, consults at Apollo Clinics (Lucknow & Gorakhpur), is a former Military Psychologist (Medical Specialist) of the Indian Air Force, and is the pioneer of Cognitive Regulation therapy in India. The clinical protocols, mentorship style and safety standards behind every chat on this site are his.
Will my conversation be private?+
Yes. The platform is ISO 42001 (responsible AI), ISO 27001 (security) and ISO 27701 (privacy) compliant. Conversations stay in your browser session, are not used to train external models, no sign-up is required, and we run zero advertising trackers on the chat page.
Can the AI replace a therapist?+
No. It provides empathic counselling, validated screening, immediate Cognitive Regulation tools, and a personalised plan — but it is not a substitute for diagnosis or long-term therapy. When your scores or what you share suggest clinical care, the AI will hand you off to Dr. Sodhi with a confidential referral PDF you can take to the consultation.
Which languages does it support?+
100+ global languages including English, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Spanish, French, German, Arabic, Mandarin, Japanese and more. Reply in any language and the AI matches it.
Is this a substitute for emergency care?+
No. If you are in immediate danger or thinking about self-harm in India, call Tele-MANAS 14416 / 1800-891-4416 for mental health support, or 112 for police, ambulance or fire emergency response. Emergency rooms are also available 24/7.
How is this different from a generic AI chatbot?+
It is purpose-built for mental health by Dr. Sodhi: ICD-11 / DSM-5 aligned screening with proper scoring, Cognitive Regulation as the primary therapeutic frame, a strict crisis-safety protocol with helpline routing, severity-aware personalised next-step plans, a downloadable confidential referral PDF, ISO-certified privacy, and a separate professional-grade mentor module for clinicians.
Which therapy approach (CBT, DBT, ACT…) does the AI use?+
The AI Psychologist is multi-modal. It defaults to Cognitive Regulation (Dr. Sodhi's integrative protocol) and will switch to CBT thought records, REBT disputation, DBT distress-tolerance skills, ACT defusion and values work, IFS parts work, MI for ambivalence, SFBT scaling questions, schema mode work, or trauma-informed pacing — whichever the moment needs. You can also ask it directly: 'walk me through a CBT thought record' or 'do a DBT TIPP with me'.
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?+
Across more than a decade of RCTs, structured online therapy for depression, anxiety, panic, insomnia and PTSD shows outcomes equivalent to in-person sessions, with higher completion rates and better access. Online is the right first option for most adults; in-person stays the standard of care for severe, complex or high-risk cases.
What's the difference between counselling and therapy?+
Counselling is usually shorter, more present-focused and helps you navigate a specific life challenge (grief, relationship, career, exam stress). Therapy goes deeper — into patterns, beliefs, trauma and personality structure — using modalities like CBT, DBT, ACT, schema or IFS. You get both here: free counselling and screening through the AI, and proper therapy with Dr. Sodhi when you need it.
I want to learn a therapy modality myself. Where do I start?+
Open the Therapy Approaches hub for plain-English explainers of CBT, REBT, DBT, ACT, Schema, IFS, MI, SFBT and Trauma-Informed Care. Each page links to a 30-day Mastery course (built for clinicians, counsellors and trainees) with daily lessons, AI mock-client sessions and a capstone certificate signed by Dr. Sodhi.