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Mental Health Assessment – The First Step to Diagnosing a Mental Health Problem When individuals seek out mental health services they are often overwhelmed by their emotions and aren't sure what to do. Fortunately, loved ones are usually able to tell the signs of trouble and urge the person to take action. The assessment process is where therapists collect information and examine it to determine a client's particular requirements. 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 issue. The process can include an examination for medical reasons as well as observations and tests. It can take a significant amount of time, and often the examination may require multiple appointments. It is important to answer all questions in a professional manner and be honest with your health care professional. This will allow the doctor to provide a precise diagnosis. Psychiatrists and psychologists use various methods for mental health assessments. You could be given written or verbal assessments. These tests are called psychological tests and can include tests that are standardised to look for specific conditions. They are typically used in conjunction with interviews and observations to make an assessment. 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 measure the response of a person to stress and anxiety. Mental health professionals will assess the cognitive function of the patient during an assessment. This will include an assessment of the patient's alertness, state of consciousness, motor and speech activity, mood and feelings thoughts and perception as well as their attitude and understanding. They will also evaluate the ability to follow directions, recall things and think abstractly. If you are concerned that your child might have mental illness It is crucial to take your child to a professional to be evaluated. This could be a psychiatrist, psychologist or counsellor. It is essential to make sure the appointment is long enough for the professional to fully understand what is happening to your child and how they are feeling. It is best for the child to be in a private space with the professional for the entire or part of the assessment. Explain to your child that the test is not punishment and that you are hoping that the professional will be able to figure out what's happening so that it can treated. It can be helpful to remind your child that everyone experiences anxiety and depression at times However, if the feelings persist, they need to be addressed. Signs and symptoms Mental health disorders can affect your thinking, feel, and behave. It can make it hard to manage daily life and relationships. Counselling and medication may help. It's normal to feel sad or worried, but when the changes persist and affect your daily life, it's more serious. If you know someone who has changes in their mood and their behavior that make it hard to live day-to-day, speak to them about it. If you believe they may be at risk of self-harm or suicide, call triple zero (000) immediately. Around 264 million people suffer from depression, anxiety disorders and various mental disorders. This includes a variety of symptoms such as low mood, difficulty concentrating or sleeping and changes in eating and drinking. The condition can be caused by a variety of factors like brain chemicals, genes or stress. Traumatic events such as the crash of a vehicle, natural disaster, or a war can also trigger it. Other causes are an ancestral history, certain medications, or physical health problems. There is no one test that can identify mental disorders. A psychiatrist, another medical doctor, or a clinical psychologist can diagnose mental health problems. Mental health professionals employ a classification system called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which separates disorders such as bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder and depressive disorder into categories. Non-categorical systems, 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 diagnosis. There is a continuing debate in the field of science regarding the relative advantages of categorical systems versus non-categorical ones. Stigmatisation can lead to negative outcomes for some people with mental illness. There are many organizations and movements that work to educate people about mental health issues and dispel myths surrounding them. The Royal College of Psychiatrists campaign Changing Minds and the Carter Centre which is based in the United States which provides fellowships to journalists who conduct research and writing about mental illness and illnesses, are two examples. Diagnosis Finding a mental health issue diagnosed is the first step to managing your symptoms. A diagnosis can help your doctor determine what's causing your mood or issues with behavior and determine the best treatment. Depending on the illness it is possible that you will require outpatient treatment, hospitalization or medication. A mental health evaluation can also help your physician determine if a physical issue is causing your symptoms. During the mental state examination the doctor will ask you questions to find out your mood and thoughts. They may also perform physical examinations to check for any muscle weakness and changes in vision or difficulty walking. They will ask you about any medications you are taking, including 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 identify specific diseases, such as anxiety or depression. Some tests are used to determine a person's ability like memory or concentration. The cognitive evaluation is one of the most important aspects of a mental health checkup. It checks for disorders that affect the way you think. Your doctor will assess your alertness, concentration as well as your memory, reading comprehension, and the use of language. You might be asked to read a short piece of literature, and be asked questions about it later. This is to look for paraphasic errors (mistakes made in pronunciation) and semantic mistakes (mistakes made in meaning) and neologisms. Certain tests, such as personality inventories, test a patient’s emotions or behaviors. private ptsd assessment can reveal whether you are optimistic, pessimistic, empathetic or competitive or if your personality is more likely to trust other people or be competitive. Other tests assess the capabilities, abilities, and motivations. For example they can assess work-related competency or job-related value. Many mental health professionals prefer using their own assessment tools. They may also choose to combine these tools with other methods such as interviewing the client or recording physiological functions. The MMPI-2 for instance, is the world's most commonly used psychometric test. It evaluates the way your thoughts, feelings and behaviors affect you. It includes 10 main clinical scales and three subscales that identify lies, defensiveness and inconsistencies in responses. Treatment Many people face difficulties and some may even suffer from a mental disorder. Mental illness can affect the entire family. It can lead to unemployment or homelessness, substance abuse as well as suicide, inadvertent incarceration and a less enjoyable life. Treatment for mental disorders can be highly efficient and enhance the quality of life of a person. The treatment consists of some type of therapy and medication. Some patients require a stay in a psychiatric institution. Through a mental assessment, a doctor can determine how well a person thinks about, remembers and processes information (cognitive function). The doctor will assess and ask questions to the person. The doctor may also ask about the way in which the person interacts along with others. The mental health test can include tests that test short-term memories which is the capability to recall information instantly after having completed an intellectual task. The test could involve learning four unrelated concepts or objects such as a sentence or name and address and then being asked to remember the information after 3 to 5 minutes. The Beck Anxiety Inventory is a popular self-report test that measures anxiety. In some instances doctors will request a physical examination to rule out neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease. These conditions can exhibit similar symptoms to other mental disorders. During the physical examination, the doctor will examine the patient's reflexes, sense perception, posture and gait. The doctor may also do an urine or blood test to rule out infections or other conditions that could interfere with the patient's mental health. Talking therapies and psychiatric drugs are the most popular treatments for mental disorders. Talking treatments include group therapy and psychotherapy. Antidepressants, mood stabilizers and benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed medications. Psychiatric medication can help relieve symptoms, but it's not always effective. The effectiveness of any treatment depends on the nature and severity of the disorder, the person's reaction to it, as well as how long the patient is in treatment. Early treatment can help prevent symptoms from getting worse and can help improve recovery.