Mental Health Evaluations

Mental Health Evaluations

Mental healthcare providers use different tools to evaluate your child’s mental health.

The information on the pages in this section explains some of the common tools that providers use. Each specific evaluation will include:

  • Evaluation: a general description of the evaluation so you will know what to expect
  • Access: how to get this type of evaluation for your child
  • Providers: what type of providers perform the evaluation
  • Location: where the evaluation may take place

Learn more about the diagnosis of specific mental illnesses

Tip

When considering a mental health evaluation for your child, make sure to call your health insurance company. They can help you find a mental health specialist to perform the evaluation. They can tell you if your health insurance plan covers the actual evaluation itself. Some may have certain conditions that you must meet to get the evaluation covered, such as only covering evaluations if the school system cannot do it or only covering evaluations performed by mental healthcare providers in their network. They also may only cover part of the cost of the evaluation. In other cases, the evaluation may not be covered.

Evaluations and Assessments

This guide uses the term “evaluation” to describe a tool that a mental healthcare provider uses to look at your child’s mental health. Providers and organizations in the mental healthcare system may also use the term “assessment.” These two terms mean the same thing.

Many of the evaluations listed here, as well as other types of evaluations, are available through the school system. Learn more about evaluations available through schools.

Bradley Hospital