8 Reasons You Should Take an Online Mental Health Screen Today
It’s time to check-in with your mental health
If things seem out of sorts lately, it’s normal to question if what you’re feeling is associated with a mental health condition. Is this sadness or depression? Am I stressed out or could this be an anxiety disorder?
Symptoms of mental health conditions can sneak up on you, and taking an online mental health screen is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you could be experiencing a mental health disorder.
What’s a screen? It’s a simple series of questions to help you check in with your mental health. You can also think of it as a routine check-up for your mind.
Mental Health America (MHA) offers a free mental health screening tool on its website, available 24/7. And you can take it from the comfort of your own couch.
It’s important to note, your results aren’t a diagnosis, but they’re a great place to start and a baseline to figure out your next steps. We encourage you to share them with your doctor or a loved one so they can help you get any support you may need.
Here are eight reasons you should take a mental health screen today.
1. It only takes a moment
Most screens only take a few minutes to complete. A typical screen is around ten questions, all multiple choice answers.
2. It’s confidential
MHA doesn’t connect the results to any of your personal information. So this is the time to be completely honest with yourself about how you’re feeling. And you don’t have to share your results with anyone if you don’t want to.
3. It’s scientific
Online screens are the same clinical tools that doctors would use to test for a mental health condition. That means you are able to utilize professional screening without even leaving your house. Remember, this shouldn’t be a substitute for professional help, but can be used as a starting point.
4. It’s easy
Questions from the Anxiety mental health screen from Mental Health America
When you hear the word ‘screening,’ it may sound like an intense intervention on your brain, but it’s simple! All of the questions are multiple choice.
5. It’s full of resources
When you finish your online screen, you’ll be met with an extensive support library of relevant articles and information. This can help you start finding answers and solutions, even before you talk with a professional.
6. It’s available for different conditions
There are screenings available for many common illnesses like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and others. Sometimes the symptoms of mental health conditions overlap, so feel free to take a few. Each screening can help you zero-in on what exactly you’re struggling with.
7. It’s just a check-up
A mental health screen can be an amazing preventative tool for your mind. Just like you go to the doctor for a yearly physical, even when nothing’s actively wrong, you can take a screen. It can be a helpful way to recognize the early signs of a mental health condition before it begins to affect your day to day life.
8. It’s there when you don’t feel 100%
This is the most important time to take a screen. If you aren’t feeling like yourself, you may be experiencing the symptoms of a mental health condition. You can start to find the right information and resources to feel better.
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One of the most serious signs of a mental condition is thinking about suicide. If you’re thinking about hurting yourself or others, safety needs to be your first priority. Call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. You can also call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or text IDM to 741741 to reach a trained Crisis Counselor at Crisis Text Line.
Remember, mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are real, common and treatable. And recovery is possible.