The K10 is one of the most widely used mental health screening tools in Australia. If you've visited a GP about your mental health, there's a good chance they've asked you to fill one in. But most people never learn what the numbers actually mean. Here's a complete, plain-language guide.
What the K10 Measures
The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) was developed by Professor Ronald Kessler at Harvard University in 2002. It's a simple 10-question survey that measures how much psychological distress you've experienced over the past 30 days. It doesnt diagnose any specific condition — it measures the overall level of distress you're experiencing, covering feelings of tiredness, nervousness, hopelessness, restlessness, depression, worthlessness, and effort.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics uses the K10 in the National Health Survey, which means there's excellent Australian population data to compare your scores against.
How Scoring Works
Each of the 10 questions is scored from 1 (none of the time) to 5 (all of the time). Your total score ranges from 10 to 50. A score of 10 means you selected "none of the time" for every question. A score of 50 means you selected "all of the time" for everything.
| Score | Level of Distress | What It Suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 10–19 | Low | Likely to be well. No intervention likely needed. |
| 20–24 | Moderate | Mild distress. Worth monitoring. May benefit from self-help tools. |
| 25–29 | High | Moderate distress. Consider speaking with a GP about a Mental Health Treatment Plan. |
| 30–50 | Very High | Severe distress. Professional support strongly recommended. |
Why GPs Use the K10
When a GP creates a Mental Health Treatment Plan, they need clinical evidence to justify the referral to Medicare. The K10 provides exactly that — a standardised, validated measure that quantifies your distress level. A score of 20 or above is generally considered sufficient to support a MHTP, though GPs can use clinical judgement regardless of the score.
This is why bringing your K10 results to a GP appointment is so powerful. Instead of trying to explain how you feel (which can be hard when you're struggling), you hand over a number that both of you can understand. It removes the ambiguity and speeds up the process.
K10 vs DASS-21: Which Should I Take?
Both are valid screening tools, and you can take either or both. The key differences:
The K10 is quicker (10 questions, ~2 minutes) and gives you a single overall distress score. It's the one most Australian GPs are familiar with because it is part of the standard MHTP assessment. If your main goal is to bring results to a GP, the K10 is the most direct path.
The DASS-21 is more detailed (21 questions, ~5 minutes) and gives you separate scores for depression, anxiety, and stress. This is useful if you want to understand which specific dimension is most affected. It's widely used by psychologists.
Our recommendation: if you're not sure, take both. They take 7 minutes combined and give your GP a comprehensive picture.
What to Do With Your Score
If you scored 10–19, you're in the low range. That's good — maintain your wellbeing habits and consider checking in again in a few months.
If you scored 20–24, you're experiencing mild distress. This is common and often situational. Self-help tools like the Guided Breathing and Wellbeing Journal on this site can help, and it is worth keeping an eye on how you feel over the coming weeks.
If you scored 25 or above, we'd recommend speaking with your GP. Print your results using the button on the results page and bring them to your appointment. Read our MHTP guide for exactly how that appointment works.
If you scored 30+ and you're struggling right now, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (24/7) or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
A Note on Retaking the K10
The K10 measures the past 30 days, so retaking it monthly can show you how your distress level changes over time. If you're in treatment, this can be a useful way to track progress. If you score improves over time, that's evidence that what you're doing is working. If it doesnt, that's valuable information too — it might mean your treatment approach needs adjusting, and your psychologist or GP can help with that.