Understand today
Get an indication of your current level of psychological distress.
A PRIVATE, EVIDENCE-INFORMED SELF-CHECKCheck in with
Check in with
your mental
wellbeing.
The K10 is a short, 10-question screening questionnaire. In about three minutes, it can give you an indication of your current level of psychological distress and a starting point for reflection.
10 questions~3 minutesNot a diagnosis
a moment just for you ✦
small steps count
A MOMENT TO NOTICEHow are you
How are you
really feeling?
Maybe things have felt heavier lately. You might feel overwhelmed, nervous, restless, low, or find that everyday life takes more effort than it used to.
You do not need to have the perfect words. A gentle check-in can help you pause and notice what is going on for you.
Take a moment for yourself →A CLEAR, SIMPLE SCREENING
What is the K10?
K10 means the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. It is a 10-question screening questionnaire about experiences during the past 30 days.
You answer each question based on how often you have experienced different feelings. Your responses are added together to produce a score from 10 to 50. That score indicates a level of psychological distress, which can help you understand your recent experience.
The K10 is a screening tool. It does not identify a specific condition or explain the cause of your feelings.
10questions
→yourespond
→K10score
→clearresult
AWARENESS, NOT LABELS
Why take a K10 screening?
You do not have to wait until things feel overwhelming to check in with yourself.
Notice a pattern
Reflect on whether things may not be going as well as you would like.
Find a starting point
Use your result as a prompt for a conversation with a healthcare professional.
Check in over time
Where appropriate, compare check-ins to notice changes in your answers.
FOUR SIMPLE STEPS
How it works
A few minutes to reflect, with a clear explanation at the end.
Complete
Answer 10 questions about how you have been feeling over the past 30 days.
Calculate
Your responses are combined using the K10 scoring method.
Understand
See your score and the corresponding distress band in plain language.
Consider a next step
Use the information for reflection or to start a conversation about support.
A REASSURING GUIDE
Understanding your K10 score
Your total is between 10 and 50. Higher scores indicate more distress reported in your answers during the period covered.
Low10–15
Moderate16–21
High22–29
Very high30–50
These bands are a screening indication, not a diagnosis. A score is one piece of information and cannot capture everything about you or your circumstances.
CLEAR BOUNDARIES BUILD TRUST
What your result can—and can’t—tell you
Your K10 result can help you
- Understand your recent distress level
- Notice patterns in your responses
- Decide whether you want further support
- Start a conversation with a professional
Your K10 result cannot
- Diagnose a mental health condition
- Replace a professional assessment
- Explain the cause of your distress
- Predict exactly what will happen
TRANSPARENT BY DESIGN
About the screening
The K10 is a widely used measure of nonspecific psychological distress. SmartMinds uses 10 responses scored from 1 to 5 and adds them to create a total from 10 to 50.
Your result is based on that fixed total and the screening bands shown above. Any theme summary is for reflection only and does not alter your score or provide a diagnosis.
Read more about our methodology →YOUR INFORMATION MATTERS
Privacy & confidentiality
Your account details and completed check-ins are stored so you can revisit your history. Your password is stored as a secure hash. Assessment answers are not sent to advertising platforms.
Results are linked to your account and are not anonymous. Site administrators with database access may be able to access account and check-in data. We do not claim that results are shared with a healthcare professional.
Read our privacy information →Stored with your accountPassword stored as a hashAdvertising answers not shared
GOOD QUESTIONS, CLEAR ANSWERS
Frequently asked questions
What is the K10?
The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale is a 10-question screening questionnaire about feelings experienced over the past 30 days.
How long does it take?
Most people can complete the 10 questions in about three minutes.
Is the K10 a diagnosis?
No. It is a screening measure that indicates a level of distress in your responses. It cannot diagnose a mental health condition.
What does my score mean?
Your total is mapped to low, moderate, high or very high distress bands. These are indicators, not labels or a clinical assessment.
Who is this screening for?
This website is intended for adults aged 18 and over. It is not an emergency service or a replacement for professional care.
Can I take the K10 more than once?
You can complete another check-in later. Each result reflects the period you report on and should be interpreted in that context.
What happens to my answers?
Answers and results are saved to your account so you can review your history. See our privacy information for details.
What should I do if my score is high?
Consider speaking with a qualified healthcare professional or someone you trust. If you are in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E in the UK.
Can I use the K10 instead of seeing a doctor?
No. A screening result cannot replace advice or assessment from a qualified professional.
Take a moment
to check in with yourself.
Ten questions. A clearer picture of how you have been feeling.
Start the K10 screening →