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Mental Health Assessment – The First Step to Diagnosing a Mental Health Problem When patients seek help for mental health they may be overwhelmed by their emotions. They may not know how they should deal with these feelings. Fortunately, loved ones are able to recognize when something is amiss and help them take the next step. Assessment is the process through which therapists collect and analyze data to determine 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 procedure where a professional examines to determine if a person may have a mental health problem. The procedure may involve a medical examination as well as observations and tests. It can take a lot of time, and often the assessment includes several appointments. It is important to be honest with your health professional and answer all questions honestly. This will help the professional get a precise diagnosis. Psychologists and psychiatrists use different methods to assess your mental health. You can be offered written or verbal assessments. These tests are known as psychological tests and can include tests that are standardised to look for specific conditions. These tests are typically combined with observations and interviews in order to diagnose an individual. Some of the most common tests include the MMPI-2 test, which tests for various 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 test the cognitive function of patients during an assessment. This will include a description of the person's alertness, state of consciousness, motor and speech activity, feelings and mood thoughts and perception and their attitudes and insight. They will also assess the ability to follow directions, recall things and think abstractly. If you are concerned that your child has a mental health problem It is vital to have them evaluated by a specialist. It could be a psychologist, psychiatrist or counsellor. It is essential that the professional has sufficient time to understand your child's situation and how they feel. It is recommended that the child is able to be with the health professional for all or a portion of the assessment. Explain to your child that the test is not punishment and that you're 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 we all experience depression and anxiety at times however if the symptoms persist, they must be addressed. Symptoms Mental health disorders can affect the way you think and feel, as well as the way you behave. It can make it difficult to manage daily life and relationships. Counselling and medication can be helpful. It's normal to be sad or worried, but if the changes continue and cause disruption to your life, it's more serious. Talk to someone about the changes in their mood and behavior that make it difficult for them to function on a daily basis. If you believe they are at risk for self-harm or suicide, call triple zero (0000) immediately. About 264 million people suffer from anxiety, depression disorders and other mental illnesses. They can be characterized by symptoms such as low mood, difficulty concentrating or sleeping and changes in drinking and eating. It can be caused by a variety of things, such as brain chemicals, genes or stress. It can also be triggered by traumatizing events like a car crash or natural disaster, or even war. Other causes could be an ancestor's history of mental illness, or taking certain medications or having issues with your physical health. There isn't a single test that can diagnose mental disorders. However, a diagnosis could be given by a psychiatrist, other medical doctors, or clinical psychologists. Mental health professionals use a system of classification called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM which categorizes disorders into categories such as anxiety disorder, depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Alternative methods of diagnosis include non-categorical systems such as those devised by German psychiatrist Kraepelin during the 19th century, and more recent ones, including the dimension model. There is a scientific debate about the relative advantages of a categorical and non-categorical models. Stigmatisation can have negative outcomes for people who suffer from mental illness. There are also many groups and organizations that strive to educate people on mental health issues and dispel myths regarding 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 for research and writing about mental illness and illness, are two examples. Diagnosis Being able to get a mental health issue diagnosed is the first step in managing your symptoms. A diagnosis will help your doctor identify the root of your mood or behavior issues and determine the most efficient treatment. Depending on your illness, you may need hospitalization, outpatient treatment, or medication. A mental health assessment could assist your doctor to figure out if something else related to 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 can also conduct an examination of your body to look for muscle weakness, changes in vision or trouble walking. They will ask you questions about any medication you take such as over-the counter medicines and supplements. There are a variety of tests for mental health, from simple self-report questionnaires to brain imaging techniques. Certain tests are designed to detect specific illnesses, like depression or anxiety. Other tests are used to evaluate a person's functioning like memory or concentration. The cognitive test is among the most crucial aspects of the mental health checkup. It is a test for any disorder that affect the way you think. Your doctor will assess your alertness, concentration and memory, reading comprehension and language usage. You may be asked to read a short piece of literature and be asked questions about it later. This is to check for paraphasic errors (mistakes made in pronunciation) as well as semantic errors (mistakes made in the meaning), and neologisms. Certain tests, like personality inventories, assess the patient's mood or behavior. These tests can show whether you tend to be optimistic, pessimistic, or empathetic or if you're likely to trust others or be competitive. Other tests test the skills, capabilities and motivations, for example the work-related competencies or the values associated with jobs. Many mental health professionals prefer using their own assessment tools. They can also mix these tools with other methods, such as conducting interviews with clients or recording physiological functions. The MMPI-2, for example, is the world's most frequently used psychometric test, which measures the way your thoughts, feelings and behaviors affect you. It has 10 scales for clinical assessment, as well as three subscales to detect the presence of defensiveness, lies and inconsistencies in responses. Treatment Many people have tough times and some even have a mental disorder. Mental illness can trigger numerous problems that affect all those around. It can lead to unemployment, substance abuse and homelessness, as well as inappropriate incarceration. It can also cause suicide and a lower quality of life. Treatment for mental disorders can be extremely efficient and enhance the quality of life for a person. Treatment includes a variety of therapy as well as medications. Some people may need to be hospitalized in a mental health facility. In a mental test an expert can assess the extent to which a person thinks remembers, processes information and recalls it (cognitive function). mental health assessment online will ask the person questions and then examine him or her. The doctor can also inquire about how the patient gets along with others. The mental health assessment could include tests to assess short-term memory, which is the ability to recall information immediately after completing an intellectual task. The test could involve learning four unrelated objects or concepts such as a sentence or name and address, and then being asked to recall them within three to five minutes. The Beck Anxiety Inventory, a popular test that self-reports to measure anxiety is used to gauge anxiety. In certain situations, a doctor may order a physical exam to rule out neurological disorders like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's that can cause symptoms similar to those of mental disorders. In a physical exam the doctor will examine the patient's reflexes and sense perception. He will also check their gait and posture. The doctor might also conduct an examination of blood or urine to confirm any infections or other conditions that could affect the patient's mental condition. Talking therapies and psychiatric drugs are the most popular treatments for mental disorders. Talking therapies include psychotherapy and group therapy. Antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed medications. Psychiatric medication can help relieve symptoms, but it's not always efficient. The effectiveness of a treatment is contingent on the type and severity of the disorder, the patient's reaction to it, and how long the patient spends in treatment. Early treatment can help prevent the symptoms from becoming worse and aid in recovery.