What does this screening tool measure?
The K6 is a six-question screen for general psychological distress, with scores from 0 to 24. It offers a broader check-in when you are unsure what fits. It cannot tell you which mental health condition, if any, explains your feelings.
- Screening tool
- Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6)
- Questions
- 6 questions
- Time period
- Past 30 days
- Who this site is for
- Adults aged 18 and older
A check-in when you’re not sure where to start
The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, or K6, asks about six experiences, including nervousness, hopelessness, and feeling that everything takes effort. It measures general psychological distress across the past 30 days. You do not need to decide which mental health condition might explain your experience before taking it.
What your K6 score means
Each response contributes 0–4 points, with more frequent feelings contributing more points. The total ranges from 0 to 24. A score of 13 or higher is commonly used to flag serious psychological distress in U.S. population research. Here, we describe that result as high emotional distress and encourage a conversation with a professional. The threshold is a guide for follow-up, not a diagnosis or an individual probability of illness.
Your experience matters below the cutoff, too
A score below 13 does not mean that everything is fine or rule out a mental health condition. This short check cannot capture every symptom, your full history, or the reasons you feel this way. You can seek support at any score, especially when your concerns are persistent or make everyday life harder.
How this differs from a depression or anxiety test
The K6 looks at distress broadly. It cannot tell you whether depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or something else explains your feelings. A condition-specific screener asks about a different set of symptoms and may use a different time period. You can explore another check if it fits your concerns, but a low score here does not automatically point to another diagnosis.
Turn your result into a starting point
You can print your result and bring it to a primary care or mental health appointment. Make a note of when these feelings began, what has changed, and what you would like help with. Explore care options for your state below the result, or visit Find support at any time. You do not need to complete a screening to ask for help.
Learn more about the screening tool and the information on this page.