diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/serializers.py b/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/serializers.py
index 7a53d1a713..ac71e89c8a 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/serializers.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/serializers.py
@@ -190,8 +190,8 @@ class ThreadSerializer(_ContentSerializer):
     pinned = serializers.SerializerMethodField(read_only=True)
     closed = serializers.BooleanField(read_only=True)
     following = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
-    comment_count = serializers.IntegerField(source="comments_count", read_only=True)
-    unread_comment_count = serializers.IntegerField(source="unread_comments_count", read_only=True)
+    comment_count = serializers.SerializerMethodField(read_only=True)
+    unread_comment_count = serializers.SerializerMethodField(read_only=True)
     comment_list_url = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
     endorsed_comment_list_url = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
     non_endorsed_comment_list_url = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
@@ -252,6 +252,18 @@ class ThreadSerializer(_ContentSerializer):
         """Returns the URL to retrieve the thread's non-endorsed comments."""
         return self.get_comment_list_url(obj, endorsed=False)
 
+    def get_comment_count(self, obj):
+        """Increments comment count to include post and returns total count of
+        contributions (i.e. post + responses + comments) for the thread"""
+        return obj["comments_count"] + 1
+
+    def get_unread_comment_count(self, obj):
+        """Increments comment count to include post if thread is unread and returns
+        total count of unread contributions (i.e. post + responses + comments) for the thread"""
+        if not obj["read"]:
+            return obj["unread_comments_count"] + 1
+        return obj["unread_comments_count"]
+
     def create(self, validated_data):
         thread = Thread(user_id=self.context["cc_requester"]["id"], **validated_data)
         thread.save()
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/tests/test_api.py b/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/tests/test_api.py
index c07e5abfac..62e6c4306a 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/tests/test_api.py
@@ -644,7 +644,7 @@ class GetThreadListTest(CommentsServiceMockMixin, UrlResetMixin, SharedModuleSto
                 "abuse_flagged": False,
                 "voted": False,
                 "vote_count": 4,
-                "comment_count": 5,
+                "comment_count": 6,
                 "unread_comment_count": 3,
                 "comment_list_url": "http://testserver/api/discussion/v1/comments/?thread_id=test_thread_id_0",
                 "endorsed_comment_list_url": None,
@@ -673,8 +673,8 @@ class GetThreadListTest(CommentsServiceMockMixin, UrlResetMixin, SharedModuleSto
                 "abuse_flagged": False,
                 "voted": False,
                 "vote_count": 9,
-                "comment_count": 18,
-                "unread_comment_count": 0,
+                "comment_count": 19,
+                "unread_comment_count": 1,
                 "comment_list_url": None,
                 "endorsed_comment_list_url": (
                     "http://testserver/api/discussion/v1/comments/?thread_id=test_thread_id_1&endorsed=True"
@@ -1397,8 +1397,8 @@ class CreateThreadTest(
             "abuse_flagged": False,
             "voted": False,
             "vote_count": 0,
-            "comment_count": 0,
-            "unread_comment_count": 0,
+            "comment_count": 1,
+            "unread_comment_count": 1,
             "comment_list_url": "http://testserver/api/discussion/v1/comments/?thread_id=test_id",
             "endorsed_comment_list_url": None,
             "non_endorsed_comment_list_url": None,
@@ -1943,7 +1943,7 @@ class UpdateThreadTest(
             "abuse_flagged": False,
             "voted": False,
             "vote_count": 0,
-            "comment_count": 0,
+            "comment_count": 1,
             "unread_comment_count": 0,
             "comment_list_url": "http://testserver/api/discussion/v1/comments/?thread_id=test_thread",
             "endorsed_comment_list_url": None,
@@ -2999,8 +2999,8 @@ class RetrieveThreadTest(
             "pinned": False,
             "closed": False,
             "following": False,
-            "comment_count": 0,
-            "unread_comment_count": 0,
+            "comment_count": 1,
+            "unread_comment_count": 1,
             "comment_list_url": "http://testserver/api/discussion/v1/comments/?thread_id=test_thread",
             "endorsed_comment_list_url": None,
             "non_endorsed_comment_list_url": None,
@@ -3039,8 +3039,8 @@ class RetrieveThreadTest(
             "pinned": False,
             "closed": False,
             "following": False,
-            "comment_count": 0,
-            "unread_comment_count": 0,
+            "comment_count": 1,
+            "unread_comment_count": 1,
             "comment_list_url": "http://testserver/api/discussion/v1/comments/?thread_id=test_thread",
             "endorsed_comment_list_url": None,
             "non_endorsed_comment_list_url": None,
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/tests/test_serializers.py b/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/tests/test_serializers.py
index ae2c53e7b4..2ffe52317d 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/tests/test_serializers.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/tests/test_serializers.py
@@ -203,8 +203,8 @@ class ThreadSerializerSerializationTest(SerializerTestMixin, SharedModuleStoreTe
             "abuse_flagged": False,
             "voted": False,
             "vote_count": 4,
-            "comment_count": 5,
-            "unread_comment_count": 3,
+            "comment_count": 6,
+            "unread_comment_count": 4,
             "comment_list_url": "http://testserver/api/discussion/v1/comments/?thread_id=test_thread",
             "endorsed_comment_list_url": None,
             "non_endorsed_comment_list_url": None,
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/tests/test_views.py b/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/tests/test_views.py
index 536d86ad2c..fdd3309601 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/tests/test_views.py
@@ -296,8 +296,8 @@ class ThreadViewSetListTest(DiscussionAPIViewTestMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase):
             "abuse_flagged": False,
             "voted": True,
             "vote_count": 4,
-            "comment_count": 5,
-            "unread_comment_count": 3,
+            "comment_count": 6,
+            "unread_comment_count": 4,
             "comment_list_url": "http://testserver/api/discussion/v1/comments/?thread_id=test_thread",
             "endorsed_comment_list_url": None,
             "non_endorsed_comment_list_url": None,
@@ -519,8 +519,8 @@ class ThreadViewSetCreateTest(DiscussionAPIViewTestMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase):
             "abuse_flagged": False,
             "voted": False,
             "vote_count": 0,
-            "comment_count": 0,
-            "unread_comment_count": 0,
+            "comment_count": 1,
+            "unread_comment_count": 1,
             "comment_list_url": "http://testserver/api/discussion/v1/comments/?thread_id=test_thread",
             "endorsed_comment_list_url": None,
             "non_endorsed_comment_list_url": None,
@@ -634,6 +634,7 @@ class ThreadViewSetPartialUpdateTest(DiscussionAPIViewTestMixin, ModuleStoreTest
                 ],
                 "created_at": "Test Created Date",
                 "updated_at": "Test Updated Date",
+                "comment_count": 1,
             })
         )
         self.assertEqual(
@@ -684,6 +685,8 @@ class ThreadViewSetPartialUpdateTest(DiscussionAPIViewTestMixin, ModuleStoreTest
                 "closed": True,
                 "abuse_flagged": value,
                 "editable_fields": ["abuse_flagged", "read"],
+                "comment_count": 1,
+                "unread_comment_count": 1,
             })
         )
 
@@ -1154,8 +1157,8 @@ class ThreadViewSetRetrieveTest(DiscussionAPIViewTestMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase)
             "pinned": False,
             "closed": False,
             "following": False,
-            "comment_count": 0,
-            "unread_comment_count": 0,
+            "comment_count": 1,
+            "unread_comment_count": 1,
             "comment_list_url": "http://testserver/api/discussion/v1/comments/?thread_id=test_thread",
             "endorsed_comment_list_url": None,
             "non_endorsed_comment_list_url": None,