Mental Health Assessment

Mental Health Assessment

A mental health assessment can help your doctor uncover what’s causing you to feel unwell. This assessment usually involves an interview, tests or both, along with questions about your family background and past medical history – including any medications taken.

Bring a list of any prescription or illicit drugs you are taking, as some can impair your thinking or reasoning. Your doctor may also inquire about any phobias, thoughts of suicide or homicidal behaviour you may have.

Interview and tests typically last 30 to 90 minutes, though this could extend if several different tests are administered, such as the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale.

Your doctor will assess how you look and assess how well you think, reason, and remember (cognitive functioning). They may also inquire into how well you get along with people and your emotions.

What do you do when feeling sad, anxious or depressed? How often do these feelings occur for you?

Do you ever feel like you’re disappointing someone? How often does this occur to you?

Have you recently encountered any tragic events that have made you feel even worse?

Do you have any family members with mental illness or a family history of it?

There are plenty of ways you can take steps to promote good mental health, like getting enough exercise, getting enough sleep or talking with a friend. But if these efforts are proving difficult for you, it might be time for professional assistance from a mental health professional.