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Mental Health Assessment – The First Step to Diagnosing a Mental Health Problem When people seek help for mental health issues they may be overwhelmed by their emotions and may not know what to do about them. Fortunately, loved ones are often able to recognize when something is wrong and urge the person to take action. Assessment is the method by which therapists collect and analyze data to determine the 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 where a professional examines a person to determine if they have a problem with their mental health. A medical examination, observation, and tests can be part of the process. It could take a lot of time, and often the assessment includes several appointments. It is important to be honest with the health professional and answer all questions honestly. This will allow the doctor to provide an accurate diagnosis. Psychologists and psychiatrists employ a variety of techniques to assess mental health. You could be given written or oral tests. These are known as psychological tests. They can include tests that test for specific problems. They are usually utilized together with observations and interviews to determine diagnoses. The MMPI-2 test is one of the most frequently used tests. It measures a variety of mental disorders. Another test that is commonly used is the Y & Z Test, which evaluates a person's reaction to anxiety and stress. Mental health professionals will test the cognitive function of the patient during an assessment. This will include a detailed description about the person's alertness and level of consciousness in relation to their motor and speech activities, their feelings and moods, their thoughts and perception as well as their attitudes and perception. They will also assess the ability to follow directions, recall things and think abstractly. If you are concerned that your child may have a mental health issue It is vital to have them evaluated by a specialist. This might be a psychologist, psychiatrist or counsellor. It is important that the professional has enough time to understand your child's needs and how they feel. It is best if your child can be alone with the health professional for the entire evaluation. Explain to your child that the test is not punishment and that you hope that the professional will be able find out what's happening so that it can be treated. It may help to remind your child that everyone experiences depression and anxiety from time to time however if the symptoms persist they need to be addressed. Signs and symptoms Mental health issues can alter the way you think and feel, as well as the way you behave. It can make it difficult to deal with daily life and relationships. Counselling and medication can help. It's normal to feel anxious or sad However, when the changes persist and disrupt your life, it's more serious. Talk to mental health diagnostic assessment about changes in their mood and behavior that make it difficult to function on a regular basis. If you suspect they are at risk of self-harm or suicide, call triple zero (0000) immediately. Depression anxiety disorders, depression and other mental illnesses affect around 264 million people worldwide. The symptoms include mood swings trouble sleeping or concentrating and changes in eating or drinking. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including brain chemicals, genes or stress. Stressful events such as an accident in a car, natural catastrophe, or war could also trigger it. Other reasons could be the family history of mental illness, taking certain medications or issues with your physical health. There is no one test that can be used to identify mental health problems. A psychiatrist, a medical doctor or a clinical psychologist, can diagnose mental health problems. Mental health professionals use a system of classification called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM which categorizes disorders into categories like anxiety disorder, depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Non-categorical models, like the one that was developed by German psychiatrist Kraepelin in the 19th century, as well as more recent ones, such as the dimension models, are alternative approaches to diagnose. There is ongoing scientific debate on the relative merits of categorical versus non-categorical systems. Stigmatisation can result in negative outcomes for some people suffering from mental illness. In addition, there are many different organizations and groups that are working to educate people about mental health issues and dispel the myths that surround them. These include the Royal College of Psychiatrists' campaign Changing Minds, and the Carter Centre in the United States, which supports journalist fellowships to study and write stories about mental health and illnesses. Diagnosis The first step to manage your symptoms is to seek a diagnosis of mental illness. A diagnosis can aid your doctor in determining what's causing your mood and behavioral issues and choose the best course of treatment. Depending on the illness it is possible that you will require hospitalization, outpatient care or medication. A mental health assessment could aid your doctor in finding out if something else, such as a physical illness, could be the cause of your symptoms. During the mental state examination, your doctor may ask you questions to determine your mood and thoughts. They might also conduct an examination of your body to look for muscle weakness, changes in vision or difficulty walking. They will ask about any medications you are taking in addition to over-the-counter medications and supplements. There are a myriad of types of mental health tests that range from simple self-report questionnaires to brain imaging techniques. Certain tests are designed to identify specific illnesses, such as anxiety or depression. Certain tests are used to assess a person's capabilities, such as their memory or concentration. The cognitive assessment is among the most important parts in the mental health checkup. It is a test for any disorder affecting the way you think. Your doctor will test you on your concentration, alertness and memory, reading comprehension and the use of language. They may also ask you to read a short story and then discuss it later, to check for paraphasic errors (mistakes in pronunciation) as well as semantic mistakes (mistakes in meaning) and neologisms (meaningless words that are written the same as real words but have no meaning). Certain tests assess a person's behaviours or emotions such as a personality inventory. These tests can tell you if you are optimistic, pessimistic or empathetic or competitive, or if your personality is more inclined to trust others or be competitive. Other tests assess a person's abilities, skills and motivations. For example they could assess work-related competency or job-related value. Many mental health professionals have their own set of assessment tools they prefer to employ. They may also combine these tools with other methods, like conducting interviews with clients or recording physiological functions. The MMPI-2 is one of the most frequently used psychometric tests around the world. It evaluates your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. It has 10 primary clinical scales as well as three subscales to detect falsehood, defensiveness and inconsistent responses. Treatment Many people go through tough times, and some suffer from even a mental disorder. Mental illness can affect all members of the family. It can cause unemployment, substance abuse, and homelessness as well as ineffective incarceration. It can also result in suicide and a diminished quality of life. Treatment for mental disorders can be highly efficient and can improve the quality of life for a person. The treatment consists of a combination of therapy and medication. Some people may need to be hospitalized in a mental health facility. In a mental test the doctor will determine the degree to which a person's brain functions remembers, processes information and recalls it (cognitive function). The doctor will ask the person questions and then examine him or her. The doctor may also ask about how the patient gets along with others. The mental health assessment can include tests to measure short-term memories which is the capability of recalling information quickly after having completed an intellectual task. The test may involve learning four concepts unrelated to each other or items, a sentence or a person's name and address. After 3 to 5 minutes, you would be asked to recall the information. The Beck Anxiety Inventory is a popular self-report test that measures anxiety. In certain situations, a doctor may order physical examinations to rule out neurological conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's that can cause symptoms similar to those of mental disorders. During a physical examination, the doctor will examine the patient's reflexes and sense perception. He will also check their posture and gait. The doctor might also perform an urine or blood test to rule out infections or other diseases that might affect the patient's mental health. The most common treatments for mental disorders are the use of psychiatric medication and talking therapies. Talking treatments include group therapy and psychotherapy. Medications are often prescribed as antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and mood stabilizers. Psychiatric medicines can alleviate symptoms but are not always efficient. The effectiveness of treatment depends on the severity and nature of disorder, the response of the patient, and the length of time that the patient is in treatment. Early treatment can stop the symptoms from becoming worse and can make recovery more likely.