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Mental Health Assessment – The First Step to Diagnosing a Mental Health Problem When individuals seek out mental health services, they often feel overwhelmed by their feelings and aren't sure what to do about them. Fortunately, family members are often able to discern when something is not right and encourage the person to take action. Assessment is the process through which therapists collect and analyze information to identify a client's needs. It can be informal or formal, standardized or non-standardized, self-report or therapist-administered. Mental health A mental health assessment is a process in which a professional checks to see if someone might have a mental health problem. A medical examination, observation and tests could be part of the procedure. It can take a lot of time, and often the evaluation will require several appointments. It is important to answer any questions honestly and be honest with your health professional. This will assist the doctor determine the most accurate diagnosis. Psychologists and psychiatrists use different methods for mental health assessments. They can offer you a written or oral test. These tests are called psychological tests and may be standardized tests that identify specific disorders. These tests are usually utilized in conjunction with interviews and observations in order to diagnose the person. The most commonly used tests are the MMPI-2 that measures a number of different types of mental disorders, as well as the Y & Z test, which is designed to gauge the response of a person to anxiety and stress. Mental health professionals will also assess the cognitive function of a patient during the examination. This will include a description of the patient's alertness and level of consciousness in relation to their motor and speech activities as well as their moods and feelings, their thought and perception as well as their attitudes and understanding. They will also test the ability to recall things and abstractly think, as well as follow instructions. If you're concerned that your child has a mental health issue It is vital to take them to get evaluated by a professional. It could be a psychiatrist, psychologist or counsellor. It is essential to ensure that the appointment is enough time for the professional to fully understand the issues that are affecting your child and the way they're experiencing. It is recommended for your child to be with the professional during the entire or part of the assessment. It is important to inform your child that going for an assessment is not an act of punishment and that you hope the expert can discover the cause to be able to treat it. It can be helpful to remind your child that we all experience anxiety and depression at times However, if the feelings persist, they should be addressed. Signs and symptoms Mental health disorders can alter how you think and behave. It can make it difficult to cope with daily life and relationships. Counselling and medication can be helpful. Everyone feels sad or anxious at times however it's more serious when these changes impede your life and keep happening. If you know someone who has changes in their emotions and behavior that are causing anxiety or making it difficult for them to function day-to-day, talk to them about it. If you suspect they are at risk of self-harm or suicide, call triple zero (0000) immediately. Depression anxiety disorders, depression and other mental disorders affect about 264 million people around the world. These symptoms include low mood, difficulty getting enough sleep or concentrating, as well as changes in eating or drinking. It is caused by a variety of factors, including genes, brain chemicals, or stress. It could also be caused by traumatic events such as an accident in the car, natural disaster or war. Other causes are the family history, certain drugs or physical health issues. There is no one test that can be used to diagnose mental disorders. click to read , a medical doctor, or a clinical psychologist can diagnose mental health issues. Mental health professionals employ a system of classification called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM which classifies disorders into categories like depressive disorder, anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder. Non-categorical schemes like the one devised by German psychiatrist Kraepelin in the 19th century, and more recent ones including the dimensions models, are alternative methods to diagnose. There is a debate among scientists on the relative merits between categorical and non-categorical systems. Stigmatisation can have negative outcomes for people who suffer from mental illness. Additionally there are a variety of organizations and movements which are trying to educate the public about mental health problems and eliminate the myths associated with them. These include the Royal College of Psychiatrists' campaign Changing Minds, and the Carter Centre in the United States, which supports journalism fellowships that allow journalists to study and write about mental health and illnesses. Diagnosis Being able to get a mental health issue diagnosed is the first step towards managing your symptoms. A diagnosis will help your doctor determine the root of your mood or behavior issues and determine the most efficient treatment. Depending on the condition, you may need outpatient treatment, hospitalization or medication. A mental health evaluation can help your doctor determine if a physical condition is responsible for your symptoms. During the mental status examination, your doctor will ask you questions about how you're feeling and thinking. They may also perform physical examinations to check for muscle weakness and changes in vision or difficulty walking. They will ask you questions about any medications you take such as over-the counter medicines and supplements. There are a myriad of tests for mental health that range from simple questionnaires to brain imaging techniques. Certain tests are used to detect certain illnesses, like depression or anxiety. Certain tests are used to assess a person's capabilities like memory or concentration. The cognitive evaluation is among the most important parts in an annual mental health exam. It checks for disorders that affect your thinking. Your doctor will assess your concentration, alertness, memory, reading comprehension and language use. They may also ask you to read a short story and then ask about it later, to test for paraphasic errors (mistakes in pronunciation), semantic errors (mistakes in meaning) and neologisms (meaningless words that are spelled exactly the same way as real words but have no meaning). Some tests are designed to measure a patient's behavior or emotions, such as an inventory of personality. These tests can tell you if you are optimistic, pessimistic or empathetic or competitive or if your character is more inclined to trust others or be competitive. Other tests test the abilities, skills, and motivations, such as work-related competence or job-related values. Many mental health professionals have their own set of assessment tools they prefer to utilize. They can also combine these tools with other methods, such as interviewing clients or recording physiological functions. The MMPI-2 is among the most commonly utilized psychometric tests in the world. It assesses your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It has 10 primary clinical scales and three subscales that identify falsehood, defensiveness and inconsistencies in responses. Treatment Many people go through tough times, and some have even a mental disorder. Mental illness can affect the entire family. It can cause unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness as well as suicide, inadvertent incarceration and a diminished quality of life. Treatment for mental disorders is extremely efficient and can dramatically improve a person's life. The treatment consists of some type of therapy and medication. Certain people may need to be admitted to an institution for mental health. During a mental assessment an expert can assess how well a person thinks about, remembers and processes information (cognitive function). The doctor will ask the person questions and examine him or her. The doctor might also inquire about how the person gets along with others. The mental health test could include tests to measure short-term memory that is the capacity to recall information instantly after completing an intellectual task. The test could involve learning four different concepts or objects like a sentence, name and address, and then being asked to remember them after three to five minutes. The Beck Anxiety Inventory is a popular self-report test to assess anxiety. In some cases doctors may request an examination to rule out neurological conditions like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, which can present with symptoms similar to mental disorders. During the physical exam the doctor will examine the patient's reflexes, sense perception, gait, and posture. The doctor might also conduct tests on blood or urine to rule out any infection or other conditions that might affect the patient's mental health. The most commonly used treatments for mental disorders include talking treatments and psychiatric medication. Talking treatments include psychotherapy and group therapy. Antidepressants, mood stabilizers and benzodiazepines are the most commonly prescribed drugs. Psychiatric medicines can alleviate symptoms but are not always effective. The effectiveness of any treatment depends on the nature and severity of the disorder, as well as the person's response to it, and how much time the person spends in treatment. Getting treatment early can prevent the symptoms from becoming worse and can make recovery more likely.