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Mental Health Assessments An assessment is an essential tool for helping people to understand their mental health. There are many tools, ranging from standardized to self-report, that professionals use for this purpose. A mental status exam is among the most common. It permits counselors and doctors to observe a client’s appearance as well as their attitude and behavior. They can also note their mood and emotions as well as their thoughts. occupational health assessment mental health can cause people to change their mood, thoughts and behavior. They may be unable to work and interact with other people. Mental illness is a real health condition, and many of the same things that affect our physical health are connected to our mental health, such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Everyone has mood swings. If these changes are drastic and last a long period of time, it could indicate that you suffer from a mental disorder. The most common signs are changes in eating, sleep or energy levels, an extreme change in or decrease in emotions like anger, sadness or joy, a difficulty in concentrating or remembering things and feeling exhausted constantly. It is important to not dismiss your concerns about someone you care about. Early intervention can stop mental health issues from getting worse. Many of these changes are triggered by life events like losing an employment opportunity, family issues or a serious accident. It is essential to seek treatment for mental illness in order to avoid it interfering with your work or relationships. Some of these illnesses may be treated through counselling or medication. Some conditions require hospital care. There are more than 200 mental disorders that could be classified as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety disorders. Some of them are extremely serious and could be life threatening. Others are less severe and don't interfere much with daily life, for example some fears. Mental health can be affected in a variety of ways, such as genetics as well as biological differences, life experiences and stress, lifestyle choices and the way society treats its citizens. It is crucial to realize that mental illness is not something to be ashamed of. Like heart disease or diabetes, it can be treated and improved. Mental illness is treatable and many people can recover with the right treatment. This may include medications such as antidepressants or sedatives, or psychotherapy (talk-therapy). Combining treatments is often the most efficient. Self-help groups and support groups can be beneficial for some people. History A mental health history is an essential element of any examination. A psychiatrist will also need know about your medical history, and whether you have relatives suffering from mental illness. They will also ask you about your current medications as well as any past drug abuse or alcoholism you might have suffered from. In certain instances, doctors may ask you to write down your symptoms in a journal or bring a friend or family member to hear the full story. A mental health evaluation can be the first step for some people to seek treatment for a specific problem. Most often, it is initiated by a recommendation from a doctor or other professional, but it could be initiated by the individual themselves. The psychiatric evaluation will provide the doctor with the information needed to make an accurate diagnosis. Through the entirety of recorded time, Western civilization's view of mental illness was based on supernatural forces and demonic possession, leading to primitive treatment methods like 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. Nowadays, the term “mental health” is used in two ways: to designate a state of health; and as a broad concept that covers psychiatry as well as psychotherapy. Mental health is advancing to become its own discipline. However, there has not been an absolute distinction between it and psychiatry. The definition of mental health varies from culture to culture but most systems incorporate elements such as self-realization, a sense of accomplishment; happiness; and a sense of control over one's environment. However these standards are influenced by cultural values that could exclude teenagers who haven't yet fully realized their potential, those with low incomes, or living in communities that are poor and minorities who are subject to discrimination and rejection. Other assessment tools are used to assess a person's mental health and wellbeing, such as the DSM-5 checklist, which includes the symptoms of specific disorders, as well as the Life Events Checklist, which can be used to identify potentially traumatizing or distressing events in a patient's life. Physical Exam The physical examination of the patient who is suspected of having a mental health problem is generally performed by a doctor or psychiatrist. The assessment may be a part of the physical exam, or it could be conducted by a health care professional when the doctor believes that a specific illness such as schizophrenia, dementia or addiction to drugs is at play. The exam provides an opportunity to examine the person's appearance, emotional state and how they respond to questions. The physician who examines will ask the person questions about how long they have had their symptoms and any family history of mental health problems. The doctor will also inquire about any medications the patient takes or has previously taken including prescription medications and supplements. A psychiatric assessment is crucial because it can help figure out what is going on within the individual and what treatment might help. A diagnosis is essential and, based on the final diagnosis, a person may need inpatient treatment or medication. The diagnosis is typically taken at the hospital, however some individuals undergo an assessment of their mental health in their own home by an accredited professional. One of the most important components of an assessment of mental health is an assessment of cognitive function. This is the ability of paying attention, retaining and organizing information, solving problems and making decisions. It also includes basic social skills, including the ability to interact with others. The test of cognition entails testing the spontaneity of a person and the quality of their speech, by having them answer open-ended questions or read short stories that are standardized. The evaluation of thought content involves the examination of a variety of things, including hallucinations that can be auditory, visual or olfactory. illusions of special abilities and status or fear of being disregarded by other people; paranoid thinking; irrational fears as well as compulsive and obsessive behavior and compulsions; a lack of association (making unrelated connections between various subjects); and depressive and suicidal thoughts. Sometimes, clinical tests are needed as an adjunct to a mental health assessment including blood work or magnetic resonance imaging to rule out other diseases and disorders that can cause similar symptoms as mental illness. Tests The mental state exam is a method to evaluate a patient by observing and asking questions. It involves a health care provider monitoring the patient's behavior mood, activity level and overall appearance. It may also include the use of written or verbal tests that include the standard rating systems used to evaluate symptoms. The MMPI-2 test, for instance, is a standard test used to assess depression. There are a variety of other tests that can be used to determine anxiety as well as intelligence, and autism. The medical history of the patient and physical examination will provide valuable information that can be used to determine if the symptoms are related to an illness of the mind or a medical issue such as hypothyroidism, diabetes or abuse of drugs. Additionally, certain physical ailments like selective brain lesions, or certain types of tumors present with similar symptoms to those of psychological disorders and might require clinical or laboratory testing like blood work, CT scans or MRI as an addition to the mental health assessment to establish a diagnosis. Psychological testing is a crucial component of a mental health assessment and can provide valuable information on how the patient is able to think, recalls, and interacts with others. The information obtained from these tests can aid the health care professional identify different symptoms such as hallucinations (the perception of a person, object or event that isn't real) or a lack of connection (the tendency to draw irrelevant connections between different subjects). A psychiatric health assessment may include questions regarding the patient's family history of psychiatric illnesses and other ailments. It will ask the length of time that symptoms have been present, and their severity and whether they interfere with everyday activities. It will also inquire about any previous mental illness the patient has had and the type of treatment they've received in the past. The patient should be honest in their answers, as this will help the health professional obtain a better understanding of the condition of the person. During the interview, the health care professional will listen to the patient's speech and how they interact. They will also ask the patient about any prescription or non-prescription medications or supplements they are taking and how they affect their mental health.