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Mental Health Check Up Screening for mental health issues can help distinguish normal, age-appropriate concerns from more serious ones. They can also help people to recognize early signs of anxiety or depression, which means treatment can be initiated before the symptoms become serious. Set realistic goals for your visit, like describing your symptoms, getting an accurate diagnosis and establishing your treatment plan. Symptoms A mental health check up typically consists of the completion of a questionnaire as well as a physical examination. Doctors may also inquire about your past experiences and feelings. Being honest and complete in answering questions is important. The doctor will likely note down a person's symptoms and behavior during the assessment. They might even ask a friend or family member for more information. It can be helpful for someone to keep a diary of their thoughts and emotions in the days or weeks before their appointment. This journal can be brought to the evaluation, or it can be given to their doctor for reading. It can also be an ideal idea to make an inventory of all medicines they are taking, including herbal supplements and prescription drugs. If someone is suffering from mental health problems or signs, they should make an appointment with a medical professional immediately. It's especially crucial to seek out help if these symptoms are causing major disruption to the daily routine or causing difficulty to maintain relationships with others. If someone has tried to manage their symptoms on their own without success, they should speak with their doctor about obtaining a referral for a specialist or seeking out community resources that can help. It is important to keep in mind that seeking help with mental health issues isn't a sign weakness. It's actually a step towards healing. Many people are unaware that mental illness can present with physical symptoms. It is important to keep up with regular physical exams, so that your doctor can test for any underlying illnesses. Talkspace articles are written by experienced mental health contributors, and are reviewed by a panel of clinical experts (therapists and psychiatrists from various specialties). We strive to provide accurate, useful and reliable information. We use reliable third-party sources, and we provide links to them in the text or at the end of each article. This assists readers in making informed decisions about their health. We also have a team of editorial and medical reviewers to ensure highest quality content. Diagnosis If you are suffering from headaches or colds, you go to your doctor for a precise diagnosis. But when it comes to mental health issues, a lot of people brush the symptoms under the rug, hoping they will disappear by themselves. A mental health checkup can be as crucial as a physical. During the mental health assessment you will discuss with your doctor or a mental health professional about your feelings, behavior and problems. They will also ask you questions about your work and personal life, especially if you have family or friends who are supportive and how you cope with stress. They'll want to know if you have experienced any trauma in your past, and if you use alcohol or drugs. They will also ask about your religious beliefs and the goals you are pursuing in your life. Your doctor may conduct a thorough medical examination and perform a physical exam. They may also perform lab tests to rule physical illnesses out like an electrolyte imbalance or thyroid disease. During the interview your doctor will pay attention to how you describe your symptoms and observe your body language to find clues about what type of disorder you may be suffering from. They will also refer to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to identify the appropriate diagnosis. When you undergo a psychiatric evaluation, your doctor will consider all of this information to determine what treatment is appropriate for you. They will also assist you find local resources for support. If your doctor suspects you have an illness that is serious, he or she will devise a treatment program that could include medication, therapy, or counseling. They will recommend follow-up appointments to monitor your progress and determine how you are responding to treatment. If necessary, they'll refer you to a specialist. Treatment Treatment can be beneficial to people suffering from mental illness. A psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist can offer a variety of treatments and medications to help patients manage their symptoms. Treatment is often needed if the patient isn't performing well enough in their everyday lives or is suicidal. A lot of people are diagnosed as having mental illness after seeing their primary physician or being referred to a specialist by a family member or friend. A medical check-up could include questions about the patient's mood and sleep patterns and appetite, as well as feelings and other signs that could suggest a mental health issue. The person might also be asked about their previous mental health history. The doctor could perform brain scans or laboratory tests based on the intensity and duration of the symptoms. Changes in sleep or eating habits could be a warning indicator of anxiety or depression. Other signs of mental health issues include feeling depressed or gloomy, or thinking of harming yourself or others. Anxiety and mood problems can have grave consequences, which is why it is essential to discuss these issues during a health check up. Psychiatrists are trained to identify mental disorders and psychological issues. They may prescribe medication or other treatments and may recommend a self-care or lifestyle program to help manage symptoms. They may also instruct coping techniques, such as yoga and meditation. Some psychiatrists specialize in treating children and others specialize in specific illnesses like schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder. It's a good idea for mental health screenings to be scheduled with the same frequency as physical checks. Mental health issues can lead to symptoms that are as severe as physical conditions and may affect the quality of life of a person. The majority of health insurance plans cover mental health services and U.S. laws require that insurance companies don't charge higher copayments or coinsurance for the treatment of psychiatric disorders than they do for other services. Follow-up Similar to a physical exam, mental health patients must follow up with their medical professionals. However, they also require the support of a community of professionals to help keep their treatment on track. In the case of mental illness, this network may include nurses, counselors and psychologists. Ideally, these providers can be located in the same office or facility as the primary doctor of care. Patients will not need to travel across the hospital or another building to see these providers. The need for timely follow-up is particularly crucial for those suffering from comorbid severe mental illness as well as chronic general medical ailments. My Page mental health assessment uk shows that people with a combination of chronic mental and medical issues are more likely to be hospitalized and eventually die than those with just one illness. Untreated general medical conditions may result in psychiatric disorders and increase the risk of suicide. The HEDIS measure that requires a first follow-up visit to an outpatient within seven days after the discharge of a psychiatric patient has great importance. The results of the study indicate that those who receive this kind of follow-up are more likely to use outpatient services, such as mental health services. This includes both medication compliance and psychotherapy sessions as well as assertive community treatment (ACT, which is a treatment for schizophrenia). Adults who underwent their first outpatient follow-up within seven days after psychiatric discharge were less likely to be hospitalized for any cause in the next six months than adults who didn't receive this type of mental health follow-up. This was true both for the depression and schizophrenia cohorts. These differences were not statistically significant, and aren't significant, which suggests that other factors may be involved. The patients who received a printed card reminding the appointment time had an increase of 9 points in attendance when compared with those who did not receive a reminder. The results of this study, while not statistically significant in nature, suggest that simple strategies could increase the probability that patients with mental health issues can attend their follow-up appointments. This is a crucial measure to prevent unnecessary emergency department visits and readmissions.