The Importance of a Mental Health Assessment
If your thoughts, mood, and behaviours are worrying you, a mental health assessment can be the first step to improving your emotional well-being. Assessments are also done by request of a doctor or for legal reasons.
Some signs of mental health concerns include:
- A decline in personal care
- Loss of interest in participating in any activity
- Feeling disconnected
- Nervousness and worry
- Odd, uncharacteristic behaviour
- Avoiding friends and family
- Acting out with heavy drinking and drug use
It’s important to know that mental health concerns can start in childhood and continue into adulthood. For some individuals, a genetic condition can trigger mental health issues. Whatever the case, there is no shame in undergoing a mental health assessment and seeking help.
What to Expect With a Mental Health Assessment
A mental health assessment can vary between individuals but typically include the following:
- An interview – You will be asked to discuss your symptoms and concerns. It’s important to be as detailed as possible so your psychologist can better understand your situation. During the interview, your psychologist will note your overall mood, behaviour, and your physical appearance.
- Written or verbal tests – You will be asked a variety of different questions about your mental health. Psychologists use a variety of tools in addition to verbal questions. Standardized questionnaires help psychologists determine how you are functioning across a variety of different areas. These questionnaires are designed to help determine what aspects of mental health are affecting you and to observe cognitive functioning, including how well you are able to think, reason, and remember.
A mental health assessment can be done at any age or developmental stage. For children and teens, parents, and sometimes teachers, play a role in providing information. For adults, it is not unusual to have a spouse, partner, or someone who knows you well provide information to the psychologist.
Why a Mental Health Assessment is Done
Everyone goes through tough times, but when negative feelings and thoughts start to impact your life, relationships, and health, it’s important to take action. A mental health assessment is an early form of intervention that provides psychologists with a full picture of your emotional well-being. It is done to:
- Identify mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorder, ADHD, conduct disorder, or dementia.
- Differentiate between mental and physical health problems or underlying conditions that can cause a chemical imbalance.
- Assess a person who has been referred by a doctor or social worker.
- Assess a child/adolescent who is exhibiting signs of a learning disability, ADHD, or significant emotional and/or behavioural issues.
The Results
A mental health assessment provides your psychologist with a comprehensive view of your emotional state, which will help determine the next steps. The results of your mental health assessment are confidential. At The Family Psychology Place, we will discuss the results of your assessment and create a personalized treatment plan.
Our psychologists are here to help with some of your mental health concerns. We can assist with:
- Anxiety disorders
- Personality disorders
- Obsessive-Compulsive disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress disorder
- Mood disorders
We guide you every step of the way and help you move towards a healthier life. Contact us today and book an appointment for a mental health assessment.
