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full mental health assessment – The First Step to Diagnosing a Mental Health Problem When people seek out mental health care they might be overwhelmed by their feelings. They may not know how they should deal with these feelings. Fortunately, family members are often able to discern when something is not right and help the person take action. Assessment is the process through 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 procedure in which an expert examines an individual to determine if they have problems with their mental health. The procedure may involve an examination for medical reasons as well as observations and tests. It can take a lot of time, and often the assessment includes several appointments. It is essential to be honest with the health professional and to answer all questions honestly. This will allow the doctor to provide an accurate diagnosis. Psychologists and psychiatrists use different methods for mental health assessments. They can give you a written or oral test. These tests are called psychological tests. They can also include standardized tests to identify specific conditions. They are typically used together with interviews and observations to determine diagnoses. The most commonly used tests include the MMPI-2, which measures for various types of mental disorders, as well as the Y & Z test, that is designed to assess the person's response to stress and anxiety. Mental health professionals will evaluate the cognitive performance of the patient during an assessment. This includes an assessment of the patient's alertness, consciousness level, motor and speech activity, feelings and mood, thought and perception, and their attitude and understanding. They will also test their ability to remember things, think abstractly and follow instructions. If you are concerned that your child is suffering from a mental health problem, it is very important to take them to get evaluated by a specialist. This could be a psychiatrist, psychologist or counsellor. It is crucial to make sure the appointment is long enough for the professional to comprehend the issues that are affecting your child, and the way they are experiencing. It is recommended for your child to be in a private space with the professional for the entire or part of the assessment. Explain to your child that the assessment is not punishment and that you are hoping that the professional will be able to figure out what's going on so that it can be treated. It could be helpful to remind them that we all feel down and anxious now and then, but if these feelings are persistent they need to be addressed. Symptoms Mental health disorders can affect how you think and behave. It can make it hard to cope with everyday life and relationships. Counselling and medication can help. It's normal to feel concerned or sad however if the changes keep happening and cause disruption to your life, it's more serious. If you know someone who has changes in their mood and behavior that are disturbing or making it difficult for them to function day-to-day, speak to them about it. If you think they're at risk of self-harm or suicide, contact triple zero (0000) immediately. Depression anxiety disorders, depression and other mental illnesses affect around 264 million people around the world. These include a range of symptoms like low mood, difficulty concentrating or sleeping, and changes in eating and drinking. The condition can be caused by a variety of factors, such as brain chemicals, genes or stress. It can also be triggered by traumatic events such as an accident in the car or natural disaster, or even war. Other reasons could be the family history of mental illness, or taking certain medications or issues with your physical health. There is no single test that can be used to diagnose mental disorders. A psychiatrist, a medical doctor, or a clinical psychologist can diagnose mental health issues. Mental health professionals use a classification system known as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which categorizes disorders like bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, and depression into categories. Alternative approaches to 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 debate in the scientific community about the relative advantages of a categorical and non-categorical models. Some people with mental health problems are stigmatised, and it can contribute to worse outcomes. Additionally there are numerous organizations and movements that are working to educate people about mental health issues and dispel the myths that surround them. They include the Royal College of Psychiatrists' campaign Changing Minds, and the Carter Centre in the United States, which supports fellowships for journalists to research and write about mental health and illnesses. Diagnosis The first step to manage your symptoms is to seek a diagnosis of mental illness. A diagnosis will aid your doctor in determining the root of your mood or behavior problems and decide on the best treatment. Based on the condition the patient may require outpatient care, hospitalization or medication. A mental health assessment will also allow your doctor to determine if a physical condition is the cause of your symptoms. During the mental state exam, your doctor may ask you questions to find out your mood and thoughts. They may also do a physical exam to check for signs of muscle weakness or changes in your eyesight, or trouble walking. They will inquire about any medication you're taking, including over-the counter medicines and supplements. There are a variety of mental health tests ranging from simple questionnaires to brain imaging techniques. Some tests are used to detect specific illnesses, like anxiety or depression. Others are used to test a person's functioning, such as concentration or memory. The cognitive evaluation is one of the most important aspects of a mental health checkup. It identifies any disorders that affect your thinking. Your doctor will test you on your concentration, alertness as well as your memory, reading comprehension, and language use. They might even ask you to read a short story and then ask about it later, to look for paraphasic mistakes (mistakes in pronunciation), semantic errors (mistakes in meaning) and neologisms (meaningless words that are pronounced exactly the same way as real words, but have no significance). Some tests measure a patient's behavior or emotions, such as a personality inventory. These tests can help determine if you are optimistic, pessimistic, empathetic or competitive or if your character is more inclined to be a person of trust or be competitive. Other tests test a person's skills, abilities and motivations, for example work-related competence or job-related values. Many mental health professionals prefer to use their own assessment tools. They can also combine these methods with other ones, such as interviewing the client or recording physiological functions. The MMPI-2 for instance, is the world's most commonly used psychometric test, which measures how your thoughts, emotions and actions influence your life. It has 10 primary clinical scales as well as three subscales that identify falsehood, defensiveness and inconsistent responses. Treatment Many people go through tough times, and a few suffer even a mental disorder. Mental illness can affect the entire family. It can result in unemployment or homelessness, substance abuse as well as suicide, inadvertent incarceration and a less enjoyable life. Treatment for mental disorders can be extremely effective and improve the quality of life for a person. Treatment is a combination of therapy and medications. Some patients require a stay in a psychiatric institution. During a mental assessment an expert can assess how well a person thinks, remembers and processes data (cognitive function). The doctor will ask the patient questions and will examine him or her. The doctor will also inquire with the patient about their relationships with other people. The mental health test can include tests to measure short-term memory which is the capacity to recall information instantly after completing an intellectual task. The test could include learning four concepts unrelated to each other or items, a sentence or someone's name and address. After 3 to 5 minutes, you are asked to recall the information. The Beck Anxiety Inventory, a popular self-report test for anxiety assessment is used to gauge anxiety. In certain instances, the doctor will order a physical examination to rule out neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease. These conditions can have similar symptoms to some mental disorders. During a physical examination, the doctor will check the patient's reflexes as well as their sensory perception. Also, he will examine their gait and posture. The doctor might also conduct tests on blood or urine to confirm any infections or other conditions that can affect the patient's mental state. The most commonly used treatments for mental disorders are the use of psychiatric medication and talking therapies. Talking therapies include psychotherapy and group therapy. The majority of medications are prescribed as antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and mood stabilizers. The use of psychiatric medication can ease symptoms, but it is not always effective. The effectiveness of treatment is contingent on the severity and type of disorder, the patient's response and the length of time spent in treatment. Early treatment can stop the symptoms from becoming worse and help make recovery more likely.