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Mental Health Assessments An assessment is an essential instrument for helping people understand their mental health. Professionals employ a variety of tools for this purpose such as self-report and standardized tools. A typical one is a mental state examination, which helps counselors and doctors examine a person's appearance, attitude and activity, mood and emotions, thoughts and insights. Signs and symptoms Mental health issues can cause people to alter their emotions, thoughts and behaviour. These can affect their ability to work and interact with others. Mental illness is a serious health condition, and many of the same things that can affect our physical health are also related to our mental health, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Every person experiences ups and downs in their mood. However, if these changes are dramatic and persist for a long period it could be an indication of a mental illness. Some common symptoms include a change in eating, sleep or energy levels, a drastic change in mood or emotion like anger, sadness or happiness, trouble recalling information or concentrating and being tired constantly. It's important to not ignore your concerns about someone you love. Early intervention can help prevent mental health issues from becoming worse. These changes are usually triggered by life events such as losing work, family issues, or a serious accident. It is essential to seek treatment for a mental illness to ensure it doesn't interfere with your work and relationships. Certain of these disorders are treated with medication or counseling. Certain conditions require hospitalization. There are more than 200 distinct mental disorders, like anxiety disorders, depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Some of these are very serious and could be life-threatening. Some are less severe and do not interfere with daily living, such as certain phobias. Mental health can be affected in a variety of ways, including genetics, genetic differences, life experiences, stress, lifestyle decisions and the way society treats its citizens. It is essential to understand that mental illness shouldn't be treated with shame. Similar to heart disease and diabetes, it can be treated and improved. Mental illness is treatable, and many people recover with proper treatment. This could include psychotherapy (talk therapy) or medication such as antidepressants or sedatives. Combining treatments is often the most effective. Some people find that self-help groups and support groups are helpful as well. History The history of mental health issues is a central part of any evaluation. In addition to looking at symptoms and conducting psychological tests A psychiatrist needs to be aware of your medical history and if you have had any relatives with mental illness. They'll also ask you about your current medications as well as any prev ious drug abuse or alcoholism you might have suffered from. In some cases doctors may request you to keep track of your symptoms in journals or bring a friend or family member along so they can hear the full story. For some, a mental health assessment is a first step in finding treatment for a problem. It is usually initiated by a doctor or other professional who refers the person to the doctor however, it can be initiated directly by the individual. The psychiatric evaluation will provide the medical professional with the information required to make an accurate diagnosis. For the majority of recorded history, Western civilization's view of mental illness was based on supernatural forces and demonic possession, leading to primitive treatments such as drilling a hole in the head (trepanning). The 18th and 19th centuries saw the rise of a more humane approach to treating the mentally ill, as doctors began to abandon these superstitions and adopt logical explanations/theories for their patients. Today, the term “mental health” is used in two ways: to designate a state of health; and as an umbrella concept that covers both psychiatry as well as psychotherapy. Mental health is now being pushed to become its own discipline. However, there has not been an absolute separation between it and psychotherapy. The definition of mental health has varied from culture to culture, but most systems incorporate elements such as self-realization, feeling of accomplishment, happiness; and mastery over one's environment. These criteria are influenced, however, by the values of the culture that can exclude those who aren't reaching their full potential, those who live in low-income areas or in impoverished areas and minorities who are subject to discrimination and rejection. Other assessment tools are utilized to assess the mental health of a person and wellbeing, such as the DSM-5 checklist that contains the symptoms of particular disorders as well as the Life Events Checklist, which can screen for potentially traumatic or distressing events that occur in the life of a patient. Physical Examination The physical examination of the patient with a suspected mental health issue is usually conducted by a medical doctor or psychiatrist. The exam could be part of a routine physical exam or when the doctor suspects that a patient has a particular condition, such as dementia, schizophrenia or abuse of drugs. The test is a chance to examine the person's appearance and emotional state, and how they respond to questions. The doctor who is examining will ask the patient questions about how long they've been suffering from symptoms and any family history of mental health problems. The doctor will want to be aware of whether the patient has ever taken any medication, including over-the counter supplements and drugs. A psychiatric examination is essential as it allows you to find out what's going on within the patient and what kind of treatment is most likely to help. A diagnosis is essential and, depending on the final diagnosis, a person may need inpatient treatment or medication. The diagnosis is usually made at an inpatient hospital, but some individuals undergo a mental health assessment done in their own home by an accredited professional. One of the major components of a mental health assessment is the assessment of cognitive function. This includes the ability to pay attention, remembering and organizing information, solving problems and making decisions. It also includes basic skills like the ability to interact with other people. In order to assess cognition, an individual is asked to answer open-ended or standardized questions, and then write short stories. The evaluation of thought contents involves a variety things like hallucinations that can be auditory or visual or tactile or olfactory, false perceptions of status, awe-inspiring powers or persecution by others, paranoid thoughts obsessive-compulsive behaviors, irrational fear, compulsions, and looseness of associations (making irrelevant links between different subjects) and suicidal or depressive thoughts. Often clinical tests are required as an additional part of an assessment of mental health like blood tests or magnetic resonance imaging to rule out other diseases and disorders that may cause similar symptoms to mental illness. Tests The mental status test is a method to evaluate a patient by observing and asking questions. Health care professionals observe the patient's mood and behavior and level of activity, and their general appearance. It could also comprise the use of written or verbal tests, including the standard rating systems used to evaluate symptoms. The MMPI-2 is a well-known depression test. There are other tests that can be used to assess anxiety as well as intelligence, and autism. The medical history of the patient as well as physical examination will provide important information that can be used to determine whether the symptoms are due to mental illness or a medical issue such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, or drug abuse. Some physical conditions like certain kinds of tumours or selective brain lesions, may also show up with similar symptoms as psychological disorders. These conditions may require laboratory or clinic testing for blood tests, CT scans, or MRIs, in addition to a full mental health examination. Psychological testing is an essential part of an assessment of mental health and can provide valuable information about how the patient is able to think, remembers and interacts with other people. These tests can provide valuable information to help identify symptoms such as hallucinations, or the tendency to make unrelated connections between subjects. A psychiatric evaluation may involve questions about the patient's family history, which includes psychiatric illness as well as other illnesses. It will also inquire about the time since symptoms were present and their severity and whether they interfere with everyday activities. It will also ask about any previous mental illness the patient has had and the treatment they received in the past. It is crucial for the patient to be honest with their answers as it will allow the health professional get a clear picture of the patient's condition. During the interview the health professional will observe the patient's voice and how they interact. They will also ask about any supplements or medications the patient is taking that are prescription or non-prescription and how they affect their mental health.