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Mental Health Assessment – The First Step to Diagnosing a Mental Health Problem When patients seek help for mental health they might be overwhelmed by their feelings. They might not know how to manage them. Fortunately, loved ones are often able to recognize the signs of trouble and help the person take action. Assessment is the method by which therapists collect and analyze information to identify the needs of a client. 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 to see if someone might have a mental health problem. The process can include a medical examination as well as tests, observations and examinations. It can take a lot of time, and often the evaluation will require several appointments. It is crucial to be open with the health professional and to answer all questions honestly. This will allow the professional to make an accurate diagnose. Psychiatrists and psychologists use different methods for mental health assessments. You may be given written or oral tests. These tests are called psychological tests and can be standardized tests that look for specific disorders. They are usually used in conjunction with interviews and observations to establish an assessment. The MMPI-2 test is among the most frequently used tests. It is a test that measures a variety of mental disorders. Another test that is commonly used is the Y & Z Test, which measures a person's response to stress and anxiety. Mental health professionals will evaluate the cognitive functioning of the patient during an assessment. This will include an assessment of the patient's alertness, level of consciousness as well as speech and motor activity, feelings and mood, thought and perception, and their attitude and understanding. They will also test the ability to recall things, think abstractly and follow directions. If you are concerned that your child may have an issue with mental health It is vital to have them assessed by a professional. This could be a psychiatrist, psychologist or counsellor. It is important that the professional has enough time to understand the child's circumstances and the way they feel. It is best if the child can be alone with the health professional throughout the entire evaluation. You should explain to your child that taking an assessment isn't a punishment, and that you hope that the doctor can determine what is going on so it can be treated. It could be helpful to remind them that we all feel down and anxious now and then, but if these symptoms persist, they should to be addressed. Symptoms A mental health problem can affect thinking, perceptions, feelings and behaviour. It can make it difficult to manage daily life and relationships. Counselling and medication can help. It's normal to be anxious or sad however if the changes continue and affect your daily life, it is more serious. If someone you know has changes in their moods and how they act that are disturbing or making it difficult to live day-to-day, have a conversation with them about it. If you suspect they may be at risk of suicide or self-harm, call triple zero (000) immediately. About 264 million people suffer from depression, anxiety disorders and other mental disorders. They can be characterized by symptoms such as low mood, difficulty concentrating or sleeping and changes in drinking and eating. click through the following document mental health assessment can be caused by many things, including genes, brain chemicals, or stress. Stressful events such as the crash of a vehicle, natural disaster, or a war can cause it. Other causes can be the family history of mental illness, taking certain medications or issues with your physical health. There is no single test that can diagnose mental disorders. However, a diagnosis could be determined by a psychiatrist or other medical professionals, or clinical psychologists. Mental health professionals use a classification system referred to as 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 models, such as the one developed by German psychiatrist Kraepelin in the 19th century, and more recent ones including the dimension models, are alternative methods to diagnosis. There is a constant debate in the scientific community about the relative merits of categorical versus non-categorical systems. Stigmatisation can result in negative outcomes for people with mental illness. In addition there are a variety of movements and organisations that are working to educate people about mental health problems and dispel the myths surrounding them. This includes 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 stories about mental health and illnesses. Diagnosis The first step in managing your symptoms is to get a diagnosis of a mental illness. A diagnosis will help your doctor determine the root of your mood or behavior issues and decide on the most efficient treatment. Depending on the condition you may require outpatient treatment, hospitalization, or medication. A mental health evaluation can aid your doctor in finding out if there is something else like an illness that is physical, could be the cause of your symptoms. During the mental state examination the doctor will ask you questions about how you're feeling and thinking. They can also conduct physical examinations to check for muscle weakness, changes in vision or a difficulty walking. They will inquire about any medication you take, including 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 used to screen for specific diseases, such as anxiety or depression. Others are used to test a person's functioning such as concentration or memory. The cognitive evaluation is among the most important parts in a mental health checkup. It identifies any disorders that affect the way you think. Your doctor will assess your alertness, ability to concentrate and pay attention as well as your memory, reading comprehension and the use of language to express yourself. They may also ask you to read a short story and then discuss it later, to look for paraphasic mistakes (mistakes in pronunciation) and semantic mistakes (mistakes in meaning) and neologisms (meaningless words that are written exactly like real words but have no significance). Some tests measure a patient's behavior or emotions, such as an inventory of personality. These tests can show whether you are more optimistic, pessimistic or compassionate, or if you are likely to trust others or be competitive. Other tests test the abilities, capabilities, and motivations. For example they can assess the value of work-related competence or job-related value. Many mental health professionals have their own assessment tools they prefer to utilize. They can also combine these with other methods such as interviewing the client or recording physiological functions. The MMPI-2 for instance, is the world's most frequently used psychometric test, which evaluates how your thoughts, emotions and actions influence you. It contains 10 primary clinical scales as well as three subscales that detect falsehood, defensiveness and inconsistent responses. Treatment Many people go through tough times, and a few suffer even a mental disorder. Mental illness can affect all members of the family. It can cause unemployment, substance abuse, and homelessness, as well as inappropriate incarceration. It can also result in suicide and a lower quality of life. Treatment for mental disorders is extremely efficient and can dramatically improve the quality of life of a person. The treatment consists of a combination of therapy and medication. Some patients require a stay in a psychiatric hospital. Through a mental assessment an expert can assess the degree to which a person's brain functions remembers, processes information and recalls it (cognitive function). The doctor will look at and ask questions to the person. The doctor might also inquire 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 ability of recalling information immediately after completing another intellectual task. The test could involve learning four unrelated concepts or sentences, objects, or a person's name and address. After 3 to 5 minutes, you are asked to recall the information. The Beck Anxiety Inventory, a popular test that self-reports to measure anxiety is used to gauge anxiety. In certain instances doctors may request an examination to rule out neurological conditions like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's which may present with symptoms similar to those of mental disorders. In a physical exam the doctor will assess the person's reflexes and sensory perception. They will also examine their posture and gait. The doctor may also perform an examination of blood or urine to confirm any infections or other illnesses that can affect the patient's mental state. The most commonly used treatments for mental disorders involve the use of psychiatric medication and talking therapies. Talking treatments include psychotherapy and group therapy. Antidepressants, mood stabilizers and benzodiazepines are all commonly prescribed medicines. Psychiatric medications can relieve symptoms but are not always efficient. The effectiveness of a treatment is contingent on the type and severity of the disorder, as well as the person's response to it, and how long the patient spends in treatment. Early treatment can stop symptoms from getting worse and make recovery more likely.