WHO-5 Well-Being Index
Please indicate for each of the five statements which is closest to how you have been feeling over the last two weeks.
The World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5) is one of the most widely used questionnaires to assess subjective psychological well-being. Since its publication in 1998, it has been translated into over 30 languages and is praised for its simplicity, validity, and high sensitivity in screening for depression.
What Makes WHO-5 Unique?
Unlike many mental health tools that focus on the presence of symptoms (like anxiety or distress), the WHO-5 focuses on positive mental health. It measures quality of life based on five core criteria:
- Positive mood (feeling cheerful)
- Vitality (feeling active and vigorous)
- Waking up feeling refreshed
- Interest in daily activities
- Feeling calm and relaxed
Scoring and Clinical Significance
The respondent rates each of the five statements based on how they have felt over the past two weeks. Each item is scored from 0 (at no time) to 5 (all of the time).
- Raw Score: Ranges from 0 to 25.
- Percentage Score: The raw score is multiplied by 4 to get a final score out of 100.
- The Threshold: A score below 50 indicates low well-being and is a “red flag” for possible depression, requiring further clinical assessment.
