Where To Find A Free Mental Health Test, And Do You Need One?
Mental health tests come in many forms, from online self-guided questionnaires to those administered by a professional healthcare provider. If you’re interested in finding a mental health test, it’s likely because you’ve noticed that you experience symptoms that may point to the existence of a mental illness. While the options available online may be great tools for considering and understanding your symptoms, they aren’t typically meant to replace the diagnosis of a professional. Still, these resources may be the starting point on a path toward receiving appropriate mental healthcare, and as such may still be useful opportunities to learn.
Self-screening mental health tests
Self-screening mental health tests are those you can take yourself, opposed to psych evaluations. They typically allow you to note your feelings or any patterns of behavior. This can be helpful in terms of identifying possible mental health concerns.
These are not tests for diagnosis, but they can give you information that may help you better communicate your concerns to a professional. You may want to print any results and bring them to talk with your doctor, especially if you're having a hard time describing what you're experiencing. First, though, you will likely need to identify which tests are potentially useful and which are not.
Free mental health test: Depression, anxiety, ADHD, and bipolar
It’s easy to turn to the internet for mental health resources, including tests that can help you understand your symptoms. One thing you may want to keep in mind, though, is that not all tests are created equal, and it may be challenging to determine how reliable a given test is simply by doing a quick internet search.
The types of tests which can be found on the internet are vast, so much so that it might be confusing if you're not sure exactly what type of test to use. You may encounter things like depression tests, anxiety tests, eating disorder tests, ADHD tests, bipolar tests, or alcohol and substance use disorder tests. These will usually have questions relating to your habits and behaviors, your reactions, and the challenges you might experience. Again, online tests can help you realize that you may need to seek professional support, but they aren’t meant to replace speaking with a doctor. It may be best, then, to steer clear of resources that claim to be able to offer a diagnosis.
Doctors can provide a referral to a mental health professional
Your healthcare provider will either have the resources necessary to conduct a thorough psychological evaluation, or refer you to a qualified mental health professional who can. Their expertise can help them diagnose your mental health symptoms based on criteria outlined by official resources like the DSM-5, a manual used by professionals to understand different mental health disorders.
Sometimes seeking out an assessment from a professional can be cost-prohibitive. When that’s the case, some community health centers, student health centers, nonprofit organizations, and other groups may be able to offer mental health screening or other resources that can help at a reduced or no cost. Even if you’re unsure about whether you’re able to pursue traditional mental health screenings, it might still be worth speaking to a doctor about what options are available to you within your means.
Which mental health test should you take?
Whether you’re looking into self-guided mental health screening tools or are interested in a professional diagnosis, it can be helpful to know how best to focus your search. Especially if you turn to the internet, you’ll likely encounter a myriad of test options, some of which might be more relevant to you than others.
Examples of different mental health tests you might take
- A depression test may be helpful for people who feel disinterest in things that previously brought joy, intense sadness, or numbness.
- An eating disorder test can help you identify whether behaviors related to eating, exercising, or body image may be cause for concern.
- An anxiety test can help people who may be living with intense feelings of anxiety, panic attacks, and other symptoms understand the severity of their experiences.
- An addiction test may help determine if existing substance use leans toward a potentially unhealthy or harmful pattern of behavior.
There are also many other condition-specific tests that may target symptoms related to an individual diagnosis. Additionally, more general mental health screening tools may also be available; these tests typically ask questions related to a variety of conditions and behaviors to offer a more overarching view of what might be causing your symptoms.
Who should take a mental health test?
Anyone can take a mental health test, but the truth is that doing so may not be necessary, particularly if your goal is to receive an official diagnosis. Still, it can be potentially beneficial to use these tools for educational purposes or to discover what treatment options are available to you.
Pros:
- A mental health test might give you the information you may need to determine whether it's time to talk to a professional about your symptoms.
- Many online and otherwise easily reachable tests are free to use, which may help you limit the amount of money you dedicate to professional screenings. By beginning with some idea of what you might be experiencing, you may be able to make the process of receiving a diagnosis quicker and easier.
- Mental health tests can help you discover which behaviors or experiences might be related to mental health disorders, including things that you may not have been aware of before.
Cons:
- Not all tests are accurate, based on reliable information, or helpful. Some may even lead you to draw incorrect conclusions.
- Many mental health tests are designed for adults, so they may not be able to accurately gauge symptoms experienced by teens and children.
- Tests available online are not meant to replace diagnosis from a professional, but because they often produce some sort of result, they may lead some people to self-diagnose. While self-diagnosis may seem like the only approachable option, it can be inaccurate, which might lead you to mistreat or potentially worsen your symptoms.
Seek professional advice for a proper diagnosis
If you simply would like to learn more about your experiences and how they may relate to mental health disorders, a test might be a great tool for you. But, if you’re hoping to find information that will help you reach a diagnosis, you might not need to take a test at all – instead, it’s likely best to seek out the advice of a professional.
How to pursue professional mental health treatment
Just about anyone can benefit from the advice and guidance of a mental health professional, even if you end up without an official diagnosis of any particular mental illness. A therapist, for example, can help you identify areas of need, learn to overcome challenges, and develop sustainable solutions for any concerns you may face.
Online therapy as a treatment option
If you’re concerned about cost, convenience, or are generally uncertain about contacting a professional, you may want to consider online therapy as a potential treatment option. Because online therapists don’t need to worry about overhead costs, they can often offer services at a much more affordable rate. Likewise, not having to drive to and from an office for screenings or treatment can make getting help less of a challenge.
Effectiveness for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and bipolar disorder
No matter what symptoms with which you’re living, online therapy can likely help you create change in your life. One recent literature review of several online cognitive behavioral therapy studies found that it could significantly decrease anxiety and depression symptoms. It also observed that online therapy can be just as effective as traditional options for treating panic disorder, PTSD, and more.
If you are experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.
Takeaway
In some cases, a mental health test can give you valuable information towards your diagnosis and can also help you track your mental health. While free tests are not always accurate, the information you glean may help you communicate with your healthcare provider. Remember that these sorts of tools aren’t replacements for a professional diagnosis, though they may be the first step toward receiving one. If you'd like professional, evidence-based results or guidance on mental health-related challenges, you can reach out to an online therapist at BetterHelp for support.
Read more below for answers to questions commonly asked about this topic.
What are the five signs of mental illness?
Symptoms for mental health conditions vary depending on what mental illness you have. However, a few signs that present in many conditions include:
- constant fatigue
- lack of emotion or strong emotional changes
- sudden lack of self-care
- increased isolation
- patterns of avoidance
How can I test my mental status?
Mental Health America offers online screening tools to assess for mental health issues including depression, anxiety, addiction, and other conditions. There’s no risk to taking an online assessment if you suspect a mental health condition. You can also connect with your primary care physician or therapist for a full assessment of your mental health and procurement of treatment services so you can work toward recovery.
Can blood tests detect mental illness?
While blood tests are not intended to detect mental illness, they can sometimes be used to identify conditions that are contributing to mental health symptoms.
Do I have a mental illness, or am I overreacting?
A licensed health professional can help you determine whether you have a mental illness, so if you think that might be the case, reach out to someone. If your mental health is suffering to the point where you or someone near you is in danger, seek immediate help by calling 911 or reaching out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.
What are the three warning signs of schizophrenia?
Delusions are a common sign of schizophrenia, along with hallucinations and disorganized speech.
What are the seven main mental disorders?
7 of the most common mental health issues are anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and personality disorders.
What is the 30-question cognitive test?
The 30-question cognitive test, formally titled the Mini-Mental State Examination, is an assessment typically used to screen people for dementia.
How do doctors test mental health?
During a mental health screening, doctors ask questions about the symptoms you are experiencing. To provide an accurate diagnosis, it’s vital that you answer completely honestly.
Can I test my mental health online, and is there a free mental health test?
If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition, you can take an online assessment from Mental Health America. Their screening tools can test for depression, anxiety, bipolar, ADHD, PTSD, and several other conditions.
What mental illness is hard to detect?
While all mental health conditions can be difficult to diagnose at times, borderline personality disorder is often considered the most challenging to detect because people with BPD exhibit symptoms of other conditions such as bipolar, PTSD, and depression.
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