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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 aren't sure what to do. Fortunately, loved ones are often able to discern when something is not right and help the person take action. Assessment is the method by which therapists collect and analyze information to identify the client's needs. mental health assessments for adults 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 might have an issue with their mental health. A medical examination, observations, and tests can be part of the procedure. It could take a lot of time, and sometimes the evaluation will require several appointments. It is important to be honest with the health professional and answer all questions honestly. This will allow the health professional to determine the most accurate diagnosis. Psychologists and psychiatrists use a variety of methods to assess your mental health. You may be given written or verbal assessments. These are called psychological tests and can include standardized tests that look for specific problems. They are usually utilized in conjunction with interviews and observations to make diagnoses. 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 evaluates a person's reaction to anxiety and stress. Mental health professionals will also evaluate the patient's cognitive performance during the assessment. This will comprise a description of the person's alertness, level of consciousness as well as speech and motor activity, mood and feelings as well as perception and thought as well as their attitudes and insight. They will also test their ability to remember things, think abstractly and follow directions. If you are concerned that your child is suffering from a mental health problem it is crucial to take them to get evaluated by a specialist. This could be a psychologist, psychiatrist or counsellor. It is important to make sure the appointment has enough time for the professional to fully understand what is going on with your child and the way they're feeling. It is recommended that the child is able to be with the health professional throughout all or a portion of the assessment. Explain to your child that the test is not punishment and that you hope that the professional will be able to find out what's going on to treat it. It might 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 issues can alter your thinking and feel, as well as the way you behave. It can make it difficult to deal with everyday life and relationships. Counselling and medication can help. Everyone feels sad or worried at times however it's more severe if these changes affect your life and continue to happen. If someone you know has changes in their moods and how they act that make it hard for them to function day-to-day, speak to them about it. If you think they're at risk of self-harm or suicide, call Triple Zero (000) immediately. Around 264 million people suffer from depression, anxiety disorders, and other mental illnesses. These symptoms include low mood and difficulty in concentrating or sleeping, and changes in eating or drinking. The condition can be caused by a myriad of causes including brain chemicals, genes, or stress. It can also be triggered by traumatic events such as a car crash or natural disaster, or even war. Other causes include the family history, certain medications, or physical health problems. There is no single test that can identify mental disorders. A psychiatrist, a medical doctor or a clinical psychologist may diagnose mental health disorders. Mental health professionals utilize an approach to classification known as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM which classifies disorders into categories such as depressive disorder, anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder. Alternative approaches to diagnosis include non-categorical systems such as those developed by German psychiatrist Kraepelin in the 19th century and more recent ones, like the dimension model. There is a scientific debate on the relative merits of categorical and non-categorical systems. Stigmatisation can have negative outcomes for people with mental illness. Additionally there are numerous movements and organisations which are trying to educate the public about mental health issues and eliminate the myths associated with them. The Royal College of Psychiatrists campaign Changing Minds and the Carter Centre located in the United States which provides fellowships to journalists who conduct research and writing stories about mental illness and illness, are two examples. Diagnosis The first step to manage your symptoms is to get a diagnosis of a mental illness. A diagnosis will aid your doctor in determining what's causing your mood or issues with behavior and determine the best treatment. Depending on the illness the patient may require outpatient treatment, hospitalization or medication. A mental health evaluation can also help your physician determine if a physical condition is the cause of your symptoms. During the mental state examination Your doctor may ask you questions to find out your mood and thoughts. They might also conduct physical examinations to check for signs of muscle weakness and changes in your eyesight, or trouble walking. They will inquire about any medication you're taking that is not prescription-only and supplements. There are many types of mental health tests that range from simple questionnaires to brain imaging techniques. Certain tests are utilized to identify specific illnesses such as anxiety or depression. Certain tests are utilized to assess a person's capabilities like memory or concentration. The cognitive test is among 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 and memory, reading comprehension and the use of language. You might be asked to read a brief piece of literature, and then be asked about it later. This is to check for paraphasic mistakes (mistakes made in pronunciation), semantic mistakes (mistakes made in the meaning) as well as neologisms. Some tests, such as personality inventories, measure the patient's mood or behavior. These tests will reveal if you are more optimistic, pessimistic or compassionate or if you're likely to trust others or be competitive. Other tests assess the abilities, capabilities, and motivations. For instance, they may evaluate work-related competency or job-related value. Many mental health professionals have their own assessment tools they prefer to use. They can also combine these tools with other methods, such as conducting interviews with clients or recording physiological functions. The MMPI-2 is one of the most commonly used psychometric tests around the world. It evaluates your feelings, thoughts, and behaviours. It has 10 scales of clinical validity, and three subscales that can detect defenses, lies 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 inappropriate detention. It can also lead to suicide and a lower quality of life. Treatment for mental disorders is highly efficient and can dramatically enhance the quality of life for a person. Treatment includes a variety of therapy and medication. Some patients may have to be admitted to a mental health facility. During a mental assessment, a doctor can determine the extent to which a person thinks about, remembers and processes information (cognitive function). The doctor will examine and ask questions to the person. The doctor will also question the patient about their relationships with other people. The mental health test can include tests that test short-term memories, which is the ability of recalling information immediately after completing an intellectual task. The test could involve learning four non-related objects or concepts, a sentence or a 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 cases, the doctor will order an examination for physical health to rule out neurological issues such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. These conditions can exhibit similar symptoms to other mental disorders. During the physical examination, the doctor will check the person's reflexes and sensory perception, posture and gait. The doctor might also conduct a urine or blood test to confirm any infections or other illnesses that could affect the patient's mental condition. Talking therapies and psychiatric medication are the most common treatments for mental disorders. Talking treatments include psychotherapy in groups and group therapy. The majority of medications are prescribed as antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and mood stabilizers. Psychiatric medications can relieve symptoms, but they aren't always efficient. The effectiveness of any treatment depends on the nature and severity of the disorder, the person's response to it, and how much time the person spends in treatment. Early treatment can help prevent symptoms from worsening and improve recovery.