Get a Snapshot of Your Mental Health with this Self-Check Assessment
Mental health is a crucial aspect of our overall well-being and it is important to check in on it regularly. This self-check mental health assessment provides a simple and straightforward way to assess your current mental state. It consists of 10 questions covering common symptoms of mental health issues such as mood, sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, physical symptoms, self-esteem, social, substance use, and thoughts.
The score obtained by adding up the points on a 1–5 scale for each question can give an idea of the overall severity of the symptoms being experienced. However, it is important to note that the score should not be used as a diagnosis, and it is essential to consult with a mental health professional for a proper evaluation and diagnosis. Nevertheless, this self-assessment can be a helpful tool for identifying potential concerns and guiding you towards seeking professional help:
1. Mood: On a scale of 1–5, with 1 being “not at all” and 5 being “extremely,” how much have you been feeling sad, anxious, or hopeless lately?
2. Sleep: On a scale of 1–5, with 1 being “not at all” and 5 being “extremely,” how much have you been having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or oversleeping?
3. Appetite: On a scale of 1–5, with 1 being “not at all” and 5 being “extremely,” how much have you been experiencing changes in your appetite, such as loss of appetite or overeating?
4. Energy: On a scale of 1–5, with 1 being “not at all” and 5 being “extremely,” how tired or fatigued do you feel most of the time?
5. Concentration: On a scale of 1–5, with 1 being “not at all” and 5 being “extremely,” how much have you been having trouble focusing or completing tasks?
6. Physical symptoms: On a scale of 1–5, with 1 being “not at all” and 5 being “extremely,” how much have you been experiencing any physical symptoms such as headaches, body aches, or stomach problems?
7. Self-esteem: On a scale of 1–5, with 1 being “not at all” and 5 being “extremely,” how much have you been experiencing negative self-image or feeling worthless or guilty?
8. Social: On a scale of 1–5, with 1 being “not at all” and 5 being “extremely,” how much have you been withdrawing from friends and family or avoiding social situations?
9. Substance use: On a scale of 1–5, with 1 being “not at all” and 5 being “extremely,” how much have you been using drugs or alcohol to cope with difficult emotions or situations?
10. Thoughts: On a scale of 1–5, with 1 being “not at all” and 5 being “extremely,” how much have you been experiencing negative or disturbing thoughts, such as thoughts of suicide or self-harm?
The total score obtained by adding the points on a 1–5 scale for the 10 questions in the self-check mental health assessment can give an idea of the overall severity of the symptoms you are experiencing. A higher total score would indicate more severe symptoms and a lower score would indicate less severe symptoms. However, it’s important to note that this score should not be used as a diagnosis and it’s not a substitute for an evaluation by a mental health professional.
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It’s also important to keep in mind that everyone’s experience with mental health is unique and that different individuals may have different thresholds for what constitutes as severe symptoms. Therefore, it’s important to consult with a mental health professional to interpret the score and identify the best course of action.
In general, if you scored above 20, it’s a sign that you should consider seeking professional help. If your score is lower than 20, it could still be a sign that you could benefit from speaking to a mental health professional.
But let’s get more specific and break down the scoring further:
· If you scored between 1–10 on the self-check mental health assessment, it suggests that you are experiencing mild symptoms.
· If you scored between 11–20, it suggests that you are experiencing moderate symptoms.
· If you scored between 21–30, it suggests that you are experiencing severe symptoms.
· A score between 31–40 would indicate a very severe set of symptoms.
· A score between 41–50 would indicate an extreme level of symptoms.
It’s important to keep in mind that these scores are not a diagnosis, and they should not be used as a substitute for an evaluation by a mental health professional. However, they can provide an indication of the level of symptoms you are experiencing and can be used as a guide to help identify potential concerns and guide you towards seeking professional help.
If you scored high on this assessment, it would be important to seek professional help. A mental health professional would be able to evaluate your symptoms, provide a diagnosis and recommend a treatment plan that is tailored to your specific needs.
This self-check mental health assessment of 10 questions is not a standardized assessment tool with a specific name. It is a general self-assessment that covers common symptoms of mental health issues such as mood, sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, physical symptoms, self-esteem, social, substance use, and thoughts.
A professional counselor can administer a standardized assessment tool that is designed to identify specific mental health disorders and which has a specific scoring system that allows for a diagnosis. Some widely used tools used by professionals are the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D).
The 10-question mental health instrument that you administered to yourself is a good screening device to determine if you should undergo a more professional evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment.
There is much value in the self-check mental health assessment that you took. It helps you identify and target potential concerns and symptoms you may not have been aware of. You can also re-administer it over time to monitor progress and changes in symptoms; it can be helpful in tracking the effectiveness of professional treatment or of your personal efforts.
Such self-check assessments also promote self-awareness; you become more aware of your mental health and well-being, and you become empowered to take an active role in your own mental health care.
Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and enjoys writing about the U.S. Intelligence Community. He authors the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster series. Check out his latest spy thrillers: MISSION OF VENGEANCE.