WHO-5 Well-Being Index
A 5-item self-report measure of current subjective psychological well-being over the past 2 weeks. Raw scores are transformed to a 0-100 percentage scale.
Note: The WHO-5 is widely used in primary care, clinical trials, and population health surveys. Higher scores indicate better well-being.
Scoring Table
| Parameter | Points |
|---|---|
| Response Values | At no time: 0 points Some of the time: 1 points Less than half of the time: 2 points More than half of the time: 3 points Most of the time: 4 points All of the time: 5 points |
Interpretation
| Category | Score Range | Action |
|---|---|---|
| ● Very poor well-being | 0-28 | Very poor well-being; urgent mental health assessment warranted. A score ≤28 suggests likely depression. |
| ● Poor well-being | 29-50 | Poor well-being; consider screening for depression and offering support. |
| ● Good well-being | 51-100 | Good well-being; maintain current lifestyle and protective factors. |
References
- The WHO-5 Well-Being Index. World Health Organization / Psychiatric Research Unit (1998). https://www.who.int/tools/who-5
- The validity of the WHO-5 as an early screening for apathy and depression in Parkinson's disease. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (2005). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15852479/
Medical Disclaimer
This calculator is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
- WHO-5 measures well-being, not specific diagnoses; low scores require further diagnostic assessment.
- The scale is sensitive to change and is suitable for monitoring treatment response.
- Cultural and linguistic validation exists for many languages; use validated local version.