People of all ages can suffer from mental illnesses. There's no shame in having anxiety, depression, or any other mental illness, but people with these conditions should seek help from trained therapists. During your mental health treatment, you will likely fill out several mental health assessments. These assessments can ensure that you receive the best treatment possible for your condition. Here are some of the things that mental health assessments can do for you:
1. Help your doctors make the appropriate referrals.
Many patients take their first mental health assessment in their general practitioner's office. General physicians aren't mental health experts, but they are aware of the symptoms of depression and anxiety. A mental health assessment is an objective measure that your doctor can use to determine if you require a referral to a psychologist. People who report a number of symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses will be referred to a specialist who can help them get the treatment they need.
2. Assist your therapist in the diagnostic process.
Getting diagnosed with a mental illness may sound frightening, but it is the first step on the road to healing. To get an official mental health diagnosis, you will first have to speak to a therapist. Your therapist will make their diagnosis based on their assessment of you and the symptoms that you report. A written mental health assessment is one piece of the diagnostic puzzle.
3. Help you stay on track throughout your treatment.
Therapy doesn't always progress in a straight line. The therapeutic process is necessarily messy since it deals with human thoughts and emotions. You may find that you digress during your therapy sessions. Mental health assessments are a tool that your therapist can use to help you stay on track. For instance, if you indicate that you are experiencing a greater number of depressive symptoms than usual, your therapist can steer the conversation in that direction by asking you if anything has been bothering you lately.
4. Monitor your progress as you progress through counseling.
Counseling is an ongoing process that requires commitment and dedication. At times, you may feel like you aren't improving. That's why an objective assessment of your progress is important. Filling out a weekly mental health assessment can allow you and your therapist to monitor your progress. Ideally, you should see a gradual reduction in your negative mental health symptoms as you continue to participate in therapy and take medication. If your symptoms do not improve, your therapist may make changes to your treatment plan until it better serves you.
