Generally, when a person is sick or injured, they visit a doctor in order to get a proper assessment and diagnosis so that they can receive proper medical care to treat their ailment. Mental health assessments are just as important, but significantly more difficult to diagnose because there are no blood tests or x-rays to identify mental health issues. Instead, mental health professionals run a variety of tests, interviews, and questionnaires based on the DSM-5, the latest manual outlining diagnostic criteria.

 

Why is it Important to Get Assessed?

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Since mental health issues can be co-morbid and stem from a variety of underlying issues, assessment specialists, such as Morgan McClelland, are able to recognize the patterns of behaviours needed to characterize certain conditions, such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, personality disorders and other common psychopathological issues that impact quality of life.  When a mental health professional narrows down a diagnosis, they can then begin to formulate a treatment plan to instruct the client on how to cope in the short and long term. Furthermore, getting a diagnosis can be what a patient needs to understand themselves, receive proper support and qualify for government aid.

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