Mental Health Screening
Reviewed
A mental health screening is a standard set of questions that helps a health care provider check for signs of a mental disorder. It is used as a first step to catch mental health conditions early. If the screening shows signs of a disorder, more testing is usually needed to diagnose a specific mental disorder.
Preparation and collection
You usually don't need any special preparations. If your child is having a screening, you may be asked to keep notes on your child's behavior for a few days before the test.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- A mental health screening is not diagnostic; it only identifies possible signs of a disorder.
- False positives (screen-positive when no disorder exists) and false negatives (screen-negative when a disorder is present) are possible.
- The screening relies on honest and complete answers from the person being screened.
- Results may be influenced by the person's mood, environment, or understanding of the questions.
- The screening does not replace a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation by a mental health professional.
What to do next
If the results show signs of a mental health disorder, the next steps depend on the type of disorder and how serious it may be. A primary care provider may discuss treatments, order tests to check for other health problems, or refer you to a mental health provider. A mental health provider may do more tests to confirm a diagnosis and help develop a treatment plan. If you or someone you know needs immediate help, call 911, go to your local emergency room, or contact the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.