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Mental Health Assessment – The First Step to Diagnosing a Mental Health Problem When people seek mental health services they are often overwhelmed by their feelings and may not know what to do. Luckily, loved ones are able to recognize the signs of something wrong and help them take the next step. 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 a professional examines a person to determine if they might have problems with their mental health. The procedure may involve a medical examination as well as tests, observations and examinations. The assessment may be lengthy and may require multiple appointments. It is important to be honest with your health professional and answer all questions honestly. This will allow the professional to make an accurate diagnose. Psychologists and psychiatrists use different methods to assess your mental health. You could be given written or oral assessments. These are known as psychological tests and can include tests that look for specific disorders. These tests are usually used with interviews and observations to determine the condition of an individual. Some of the most common tests are the MMPI-2, which measures for various types of mental disorders, and the Y & Z test, that is designed to assess the response of a person to stress and anxiety. Mental health professionals will test the cognitive functioning of the patient during an assessment. This will include an assessment of the patient's alertness, level of consciousness speech and motor activity, mood and feelings as well as perception and thought and their attitudes and perception. They will also test their ability to remember things, think abstractly and follow instructions. If you're worried that your child is suffering from a mental health issue It is vital to take them to get evaluated by a specialist. It could be a psychiatrist, psychologist or counsellor. It is important that the professional has enough time to comprehend the child's circumstances and the way they feel. It is best for the child to be in a private space with the professional during the entire or part of the evaluation. private mental health assessment ireland should explain to your child that taking an assessment is not an act of punishment and that you're hoping the professional can find out what's going on so it can be treated. It could be helpful to remind them that we all feel down and anxious every now and then, but if these symptoms persist, they should to be addressed. Symptoms Mental health disorders can affect how you think and behave. It can make it difficult to cope with everyday life and relationships. Counselling and medication can help. Everyone feels sad or worried at times, but it's more severe if these changes impede your life and continue to happen. Talk to someone about the changes in their mood and behavior that are making it difficult to function on a regular basis. If you believe they are at risk for self-harm or suicide, call triple zero (0000) immediately. Depression, anxiety disorders and other mental disorders affect about 264 million people around the world. This includes a variety of symptoms like low mood, difficulty concentrating or sleeping, as well as changes in eating habits and drinking. The condition can be triggered by a variety of factors like brain chemicals, genes or stress. It can also be triggered by traumatizing events like an accident in the car, natural disaster or war. Other causes include a family history, certain drugs, or physical health problems. There isn't a single test to determine the presence of mental health issues. A psychiatrist, another medical doctor, or a clinical psychologist can diagnose mental health problems. Mental health professionals utilize a system of classification called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM which classifies disorders into categories such as depressive disorder, anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder. Non-categorical schemes such as the one developed by German psychiatrist Kraepelin in the 19th century, and more recent ones, such as the dimensional models, are alternative methods to diagnosis. There is a debate in the scientific community on the relative merits between categorical and non-categorical models. People with mental health problems are stigmatised and this can lead to poorer outcomes. Additionally there are numerous movements and organisations working to educate people about mental health issues 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 fellowships for journalists to research and write about mental health and illnesses. Diagnosis The first step to manage your symptoms is to get a diagnosis of a mental illness. A diagnosis will help your doctor identify the root of your mood or behavior issues, and decide on the most effective treatment. Depending on the disease it is possible that you will require outpatient care, hospitalization or medication. A mental health evaluation can help your doctor determine if a physical issue is the cause of your symptoms. During the mental status examination, your doctor will ask you questions about how you're feeling and thinking. They may also perform a physical exam to check for signs of muscle weakness and changes in your eyesight or difficulties walking. They will ask about any medications you are taking in addition to over-the-counter medications and supplements. There are a variety of mental health tests that range from simple self-report questionnaires to brain imaging techniques. Certain tests are designed to identify specific diseases, such as depression or anxiety. Others are used to assess the person's performance such as memory or concentration. The cognitive assessment is among the most crucial aspects of an annual mental health exam. It identifies any disorders affecting the way you think. Your doctor will test you on your alertness, concentration, memory, reading comprehension and language use. They might even ask you to read an excerpt of a story and inquire about it later to check for paraphasic errors (mistakes in pronunciation) and semantic errors (mistakes in meaning) and neologisms (meaningless words that are written the same as real words but have no meaning). Some tests measure a patient's behaviours or emotions, such as a personality inventory. These tests can reveal whether you are optimistic, pessimistic, compassionate or competitive, or if your personality is more inclined to trust others or be competitive. Other tests assess the capabilities, abilities, and motivations. For instance they could assess the work-related skills or value. Many mental health professionals prefer to use their own assessment tools. They can also combine these with other methods like interviewing the client or recording physiological functions. The MMPI-2 for instance, is the world's most commonly used psychometric test. It examines the way your thoughts, feelings and actions influence your life. It contains 10 primary clinical scales as well as three subscales that identify the presence of defensiveness, lies and inconsistencies in responses. Treatment Many people face difficulties and some even have a mental disorder. Mental illness can lead to a lot of problems that affect all those around. It can lead to unemployment, substance abuse, and homelessness as well as ineffective imprisonment. It can also cause suicide and a reduced quality of life. Treatment for mental disorders can be highly efficient and can improve the quality of life of a person. The treatment consists of some type of therapy and medication. Certain people may need to be admitted to a mental health facility. During a mental health assessment during a mental health assessment, the doctor will find out how well the individual thinks and how well he or she remembers and processes information (cognitive functioning). The doctor will examine and ask questions to the person. The doctor might also inquire about how the patient gets along with other people. The mental health test can include tests to measure short-term memories which is the capacity of recalling information immediately after completing an intellectual task. The test may involve learning four unrelated concepts or objects, a sentence, or a person's name and address. After three to five minutes, you will be asked to remember the information. The Beck Anxiety Inventory, a popular self report test for anxiety assessment is used to measure anxiety. In certain instances doctors will request an examination for physical health to rule out neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease. These conditions can be similar to mental disorders. During the physical exam, the doctor will check the person's reflexes, sensory perception, posture and gait. The doctor might also perform a blood or urine test to rule out infections or other conditions that could hinder the patient's mental health. Talking therapies and psychiatric drugs are the most common treatments for mental disorders. Talking therapies include psychotherapy and group therapy. They are usually prescribed as antidepressants, benzodiazepines or mood stabilizers. Psychiatric medications can ease symptoms but are not always efficient. The effectiveness of a treatment is contingent on the nature and severity of the disorder, the patient's reaction to it, and how long the patient is in treatment. Early treatment can prevent symptoms from getting worse and can help improve recovery.