The WHO (World Health Organization) 5 Well-Being Index consists of a short questionnaire that assesses mental well-being through 5 simple statements about daily functioning and mood. This index consists of five straightforward statements that assess mood status and everyday activities.
Positive expressions and satisfaction statements exist throughout these 5 statements. Mental healthcare providers use a scale from 0 to 5 to measure patient responses. The assessment scale shows higher marks for well-being but shows distress through lower results.
The tool enables mental health assessment across various environments. It is a method that has been found to be useful in both research environments and clinical applications. The index requires a basic understanding from respondents and can be completed quickly. The tool helps in mental health diagnosis during the early stages while observing patient recovery throughout the treatment period.
The 5 WHO-5 Questions
Here are the 5 WHO-5 Well-Being Questions:
- I feel cheerful and in good spirits.
- I feel calm and relaxed.
- I feel active and energetic.
- I wake up feeling refreshed and well-rested.
- My daily life is filled with things that interest me.
Self-Scoring Table
| Statement | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
5
|
| Cheerful & good spirits | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Calm & relaxed | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Active & vigorous | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Fresh & rested | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Daily life is interesting | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Total Score (out of 25) | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
Scoring Method
0 = At no time
1 =
2 =
3 =
4 = All the time
All five questions contribute to the total score, which ranges between 0 and 25.
Severity Interpretation:
0–12: Low well-being (Possible risk of depression)
13–25: Good well-being (No immediate concern)
People with mental well-being scores lower than 13 need to seek further assessment. Well-being ratings rise as the score number increases. Such a system enables fast assessment of mental health to uncover people who need professional assistance. WHO-5 stands as an easily usable instrument for tracking mental health progression through time.
How to Interpret Your WHO-5 Score?
A WHO-5 score reflects mental well-being. The various wellness levels equal to different scores ranging from 0 to 25. The measurement of well-being reaches a good state when the score reaches 13 points. A lower score indicates more harmful mental health conditions. Patients who score below 13 on this questionnaire may have signs of emotional distress. It is necessary to conduct further assessment when the score falls below 8 points. The interpretation system allows professionals to recognize which patients should receive additional assistance.
Score modifications throughout time periods show changes in mental health status patterns. The well-being status deteriorates when the assessed score experiences a noticeable decrease. Monitoring well-being happens through routine evaluation of mental condition. This scoring system provides an easy way to evaluate your emotional and psychological well-being.
Why is the WHO-5 Important?
The WHO-5 provides a basic assessment of mental well-being through its screening method. The tool provides doctors with the means to detect both emotional suffering and depressed states. Healthcare professionals depend on this screening method to assess patients’ psychological conditions. The measurement tool follows emotional health changes throughout different periods.
Scores below normal values might reveal the requirement for additional support services. The scale has become a standard instrument for mental health research studies. This measurement tool works equally well with multiple population sectors and across different age ranges. The assessment provides a rapid assessment of the emotional state. Early identification and mental health intervention happen through the utilization of this screening instrument.
