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ST-5 Stress Test

Five questions, one minute: the ST-5 is the stress questionnaire of Thailand's Department of Mental Health (กรมสุขภาพจิต), the one used in public hospitals. Answer for the past 2 to 4 weeks, see your level on a gauge, what it means and what you can do today. Your answers stay on your phone.

Free, no sign-up, nothing stored

Official questionnaire · 5 questions

How have you been these past few weeks?

For each statement, choose how often you've experienced it over the past 2 to 4 weeks. There are no right or wrong answers.

  • 5 questions
  • About 1 minute
  • Nothing is sent

This test helps you take stock of your stress; it does not replace a consultation or give a diagnosis. If you are thinking of harming yourself, call 1669 or 1323 right away, or go to the nearest emergency department.

ST-5 and 2Q questionnaires: Department of Mental Health (กรมสุขภาพจิต), Thai Ministry of Public Health. Translations by pranathai.

ST-5 Stress Test

How it works

  1. The ST-5 (แบบประเมินความเครียด ST-5) was developed at Srithanya Hospital, part of the Department of Mental Health of Thailand's Ministry of Public Health, by selecting items from the 20-item stress test of Suanprung Hospital (SST-20). The five questions kept are the most telling signs of stress: sleep, concentration, irritability, feeling fed up and wanting to withdraw. The scale was checked against the HADS anxiety and depression scale and agreed well with it; later studies in factory workers and adolescents used the same 0-4, 5-7 and 8+ cut-offs.

  2. For each question, you pick what best describes the past 2 to 4 weeks: almost never (0 points), sometimes (1), often (2) or regularly (3). The tool adds up the points for a total between 0 and 15. The wording follows the version published by the Department and by Thai public hospitals; some copies say "the past 2 weeks, including today", and we kept the more common 2 to 4 week window.

  3. Your total is read against the four levels published by the Department: 0 to 4, low stress (เครียดน้อย); 5 to 7, moderate stress (เครียดปานกลาง); 8 to 9, high stress (เครียดมาก); 10 to 15, very high stress (เครียดมากที่สุด). The original study suggested similar cut-offs (4 or less: no problem; 5 to 6: possible problem; 7 or more: likely problem), so a score from 7 or 8 upward is worth taking seriously.

  4. From 8 points, the tool puts forward the 2Q, the Department of Mental Health's two depression screening questions, which cover the past two weeks. A single "yes" is enough to speak of a risk of depression: it is not a diagnosis, but an invitation to take the fuller 9Q questionnaire with a professional, at a health centre, at a hospital or over the phone with the 1323 helpline.

  5. The advice changes with your level: slow breathing, sleep, physical activity, talking to someone and, at the highest levels, professional support. These are general wellbeing tips, not treatment. The answers that weigh most ("often" or "regularly") each get a targeted tip.

  6. Everything is calculated in your browser: no answer is sent anywhere, and the history (one result per day, the last twelve) stays in your phone's local storage, which you can clear in one tap. Sources: Department of Mental Health (กรมสุขภาพจิต), ST-5 and 2Q forms as distributed by Thai public hospitals; O. Silpakit, "Srithanya stress scale", Journal of Mental Health of Thailand, 2008, 16(3), pp. 177-185.

These tools give general information. They do not replace the advice of a doctor or a qualified professional.

Go furtherStress & anxiety

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if I'm stressed?
Stress often shows before we name it: sleeping badly or too much, struggling to focus, snapping over small things, finding everything dull, avoiding people. Those are exactly the five ST-5 questions. Take the test thinking about the past 2 to 4 weeks: the score tells you whether your stress is within the normal range or whether it's time to act.
What does an ST-5 score of 8 or more mean?
A score of 8 to 9 means high stress; 10 to 15 means very high stress. At this point stress starts to affect sleep, work or relationships. It is worth answering the two 2Q questions offered by the tool and talking to a health professional or to the 1323 helpline, which is free and open 24 hours a day.
Is the ST-5 an official test?
Yes. It is the self-assessment stress questionnaire of the Department of Mental Health at Thailand's Ministry of Public Health, used in hospitals and health centres. Like any short questionnaire, it helps you take stock; it does not give a diagnosis.
What is the 2Q?
It is the Department of Mental Health's two-question depression screen: over the past two weeks, have you felt down, sad or hopeless, and have you felt fed up, with no pleasure in doing anything? A single "yes" is enough to recommend a fuller assessment (9Q) with a professional.
How can I reduce stress quickly?
A few minutes of slow breathing, with the out-breath longer than the in-breath, settles the body fast. A ten-minute walk, a break away from screens and a chat with someone you trust also help. Over time, regular sleep and physical activity make the biggest difference.
Who can I talk to in Thailand if I'm not okay?
The Department of Mental Health's 1323 helpline is free and answers 24 hours a day. The Samaritans of Thailand also listen on 02 713 6793 (Thai). If you or someone close to you is in immediate danger, call 1669 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Are my answers stored anywhere?
No. The calculation runs in your browser and nothing is sent. If you save a result, it stays only in your phone's memory so you can follow your progress, and you can delete it at any time.

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