The 5-item WHO-5 was first presented by the WHO Regional Office in Europe at a 1998 WHO meeting in Stockholm as an element in the DEPCARE project on the measures of well-being in primary health care. Since this time, the WHO-5 has been validated in a number of studies with regard to both clinical and psychometric validity. Measures subjective quality of life based on positive mood (good spirits, relaxation), vitality (being active and waking up fresh and rested), and general interest (being interested in things).

This is a one page overview of the World Health Organization Five Well-being Index