If you or someone you know is concerned about having or experiencing mental health issues, the first step is to start talking to a healthcare professional about how you are feeling and your concerns surrounding this. Your GP or a mental health professional will be able to conduct your initial mental health assessment and may refer you to a counsellor, psychologist or psychiatrist depending on your needs.
What is A Mental Health Assessment?
A mental health assessment is when a medical professional like your GP, psychologist or a psychiatrist checks to see if you might have a mental illness and assess what type of treatment will be the best option for you.
When would a Mental Health Assessment be considered :
• Diagnosing mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, postnatal depression, eating disorders and psychotic illnesses.
• Differentiating between mental and physical health problems.
• Assessing a person who may have been referred because of problems at school, work or home.
How to prepare for a mental health assessment
Before your appointment, think about the reasons for the assessment:
- Write down the mental illness symptoms you have been experiencing?
- What are the thoughts, feelings or behaviours that have been troubling you?
- Has a particular event, such as the death of a loved one, or trauma in your life that has brought on these symptoms?
- How often do you have the symptoms and how are your currently dealing with these symptoms?
- Do your symptoms last for a long time? Keep track of how long the symptoms last?
Keeping a diary in the days or week leading up to your mental health assessment may be helpful. It may also help to bring a friend or family member who can describe your mental illness symptoms from their perspective.
If the assessment is for a child, make some notes about their behaviour. It might help to ask their teachers about any observations they have made.
Prepare a list of any prescription or illicit drugs you are taking – some drugs can affect the way you think or reason, so this could explain some of your symptoms.
How can our Healthcare professionals at North Dandenong Clinic assist you?
Through a consultation, our doctors will discuss your medical history and the mental health symptoms you have been experiencing. This will help determine whether a Mental Health Assessment is the best option for you and a treatment plan. Book an appointment with a GP today.
