WHO-5 Well-Being Index: Overview & Interpretation
The WHO-5 Well-Being Index is a short, widely used questionnaire that measures subjective well-being and mental health. Developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), it focuses on positive mood, vitality, and general functioning rather than just symptoms of distress.
Key Features of the WHO-5
✅ 5 simple questions rated on a 6-point scale (0–5)
✅ Assesses well-being over the past 2 weeks
✅ Used to screen for depression, track mental health interventions, and measure quality of life
✅ Validated across cultures and age groups
Scoring:
0 = At no time
1 = Some of the time
2 = Less than half the time
3 = More than half the time
4 = Most of the time
5 = All of the time
Scoring & Interpretation
- Raw score: Sum of all items (0–25)
- Percentage score: (Raw score ÷ 25) × 100
| Score | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 0-50% | Low well-being (possible depression risk) |
| 51-79% | Moderate well-being |
| 80-100% | High well-being |
A score ≤50% (≤12 raw score) suggests possible depression and warrants further assessment.
Why Use the WHO-5?
✔ Positive focus: Measures wellness rather than just illness
✔ Quick screening: Takes 1 minute to complete
✔ Sensitive to change: Useful for tracking therapy progress
✔ Used worldwide: Validated in over 30 languages