Stress & Wellbeing · 1 min · 5 questions
WHO-5: WHO-5 Well-Being Index
Five positively worded questions about your well-being over the last two weeks. About 1 minute.
Medical disclaimer: this is a validated screening questionnaire, not a diagnostic test. Only a qualified health professional can diagnose a condition. Your answers are processed in your browser and are never sent or stored.
Please indicate for each of the five statements which is closest to how you have been feeling over the last two weeks.
WHO-5 result
Answer all 5 questions for a complete result. Current partial score shown.
A WHO-5 score of 12 or below indicates poor well-being and is an indication to screen for depression (for example with the PHQ-9).
Recommended next steps
- Take a depression screening such as the PHQ-9.
- Consider discussing your well-being with a doctor.
- Small daily habits — sleep, movement, social contact — measurably improve well-being.
Answer the remaining questions to enable the report:
- WHO-5:
Screening result only, not a diagnosis. Share it with a doctor or therapist.
WHO-5 scoring guide
| Score | Interpretation | Suggested action |
|---|---|---|
| 0–12 | Poor well-being | Take a depression screening such as the PHQ-9. |
| 13–25 | Adequate well-being | Keep up the habits that support your well-being. |
Clinical background
What it measures
The WHO-5 is a positively worded index of subjective well-being developed by the World Health Organization. Unlike most screeners it asks about positive states — cheerfulness, calm, energy, rest and interest — rather than symptoms.
How it is scored
Items are scored 0–5 and summed to 0–25, with higher scores indicating better well-being. A score of 12 or below is an indication to test for depression; the score can be multiplied by 4 to give a 0–100 percentage.
Reference: Topp CW, Østergaard SD, Søndergaard S, Bech P. The WHO-5 Well-Being Index: a systematic review of the literature. Psychother Psychosom. 2015;84(3):167–176. The WHO-5 is copyright-free (WHO, 1998).