Best Child Mental Health Assessment and Questionnaire | Top 2024 Job Aid

Best Child Behavior Assessment Questionnaire & Child Assessment Tools for Mental Health

2024 Mental Health Worker Guide on How to Improve Children’s Mental Health

Child and youth mental health is a critical issue that affects millions of young people around the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 10% of children and adolescents globally are affected by mental disorders.

Additionally, research has also shown that approximately half of all mental illnesses begin by the age of 14 (WHO Report). This highlights the importance of child and youth mental health early on and ensuring that they receive the necessary support and treatment.

With all of that said, it’s easy to see why conducting a child mental health assessment plays a crucial role in identifying any potential mental health problems.

In this Social Work Portal guide, we will give you a comprehensive overview of all the main things mental health professionals should know about mental health assessment tools for children, mental health symptoms in children, how to help children’s mental health, and much more!

Best Children’s Mental Health Questionnaire & Other Assessment Tools

Read on to find out how to provide the best possible mental health care to children and youth in your mental health practice.

Would you like to share feedback on our child mental health assessment guide? Is there any child psychology questionnaire or children’s mental health questionnaire that we can include in this guide for other mental health professionals to leverage? If so, contact the Social Work Portal Team.

Table of Contents: Best Child and Youth Mental Health Assessment

Keep on scrolling down this page to read each section or click any link below to go directly to that section.

What is Child and Youth Mental Health Assessment
Why Children’s Mental Health is Important
Mental Health Assessment Form Child Intake Session
Children’s Mental Health Evaluation Process & Tools
Mental Health Assessment Tools for Children
Conclusion | Why Children’s Mental Health Is Important
FAQ | Mental Health for Child and Youth

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What is Child Mental Health Assessment? | How to Improve Children’s Mental Health

Before we get into all the methods and tools available to mental health professionals that work with children and youth, we first must establish what youth and child mental health assessment is.

Child mental health assessment is the process of evaluating a child’s emotional and behavioral well-being in order to identify any potential mental health problems or disorders.

Proving Mental Health for Kids and Young Adults

Child and youth mental health assessment is typically conducted by mental health professionals, such as psychologists, social workers, and psychiatrists, and children’s mental health evaluation process can involve a variety of methods, including:

Mental health assessment form child or parent/caregiver can fill in
General child health questionnaire
Standardized mental health tests & mental health screeners
Child behavior assessment questionnaire
Observations
Interviews with the child and their caregivers
Different child assessment tools for mental health
And many more…

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Why Children’s Mental Health is Important

Children’s mental health is important because it lays the foundation for their overall well-being and future success. A child’s mental health affects their ability to develop strong relationships, manage stress and emotions, learn and achieve academic success, and make positive life choices.

The goal of a child mental health assessment is to gather as much information as possible about the child and their current state of mental health in order to determine how to help children’s mental health.

The information is typically collected in the child therapy intake form and/or mental health assessment form child or caregiver can fill in, and used to develop a diagnosis, and determine the most appropriate course of treatment. Here’s where Social Work Portal’s All-in-One Client and Case Management Toolkit saves the day.

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It is essential to remember that the child and youth mental health assessment is a collaborative process between the child, their caregivers, and the mental health professional, and open communication is key to ensuring the best possible outcome.

Children’s mental health evaluation is very important, and early intervention is critical for promoting positive outcomes. Regular evaluations can help to identify potential problems early on and ensure that children receive the support and resources they need to overcome mental health challenges and thrive.

By taking a proactive approach to mental health, we can help children and youth to build resilience and develop the skills they need to lead happy and fulfilling lives. Next, we will take a look at what information will be provided in the child therapy intake form.

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Mental Health Assessment Form Child Intake Session | Child Therapy Intake Form

A child therapy intake form is a document that is used by psychologists, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals to gather information about a child before starting therapy or during the mental health assessment form child intake session.

A child therapy intake form typically asks for the following information:

Personal information: Name, date of birth, contact information, and any relevant identification numbers
Background information: Family structure, ethnicity, cultural background, and relevant medical history
Reason for seeking therapy: Description of current symptoms, problems, or concerns
Psychological history: Any previous mental health diagnoses, treatments, or hospitalizations
Developmental history: Milestones, learning challenges, or other relevant developmental history information
Family relationships: Details about family members and relationships with them
Social relationships: Details about relationships with peers, friends, and teachers
School/Academic information: Information about school performance, attendance, and any learning difficulties
Substance use and abuse history: Information about any substance use or abuse history
Other relevant information: Any other information the therapist should be aware of to provide the best possible care and determine how to improve children’s mental health

We have to note that some of this information may not be applicable to every child, and the information requested can vary depending on the therapist and the specific needs of the child. However, the more information that is provided, the better equipped the mental health professional will be to provide effective treatment.

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Next, it is time for us to take a deep dive into some of the most commonly used child mental health assessment tools.

Do you have any questions about the content and information provided in the child therapy intake form or child health assessment questionnaire tools? If so, contact the Social Work Portal Team.

Introduction to Children’s Mental Health Evaluation Process & Tools

Child mental health assessment tools are various instruments and questionnaires used to evaluate the emotional and behavioral functioning of children.

These child assessment tools for mental health are designed to help mental health practitioners identify any potential mental health problems and develop a comprehensive understanding of the child’s current state.

These valuable child assessment tools for mental health can also be used to determine how to improve children’s mental health, track progress, and monitor the effectiveness of mental health for child and youth treatment.

How to Help Children’s Mental Health?

Some of the many available types of mental health assessment tools for children are:

Behavioral rating scales
Cognitive tests
Standardized clinical interviews
Psychological and cognitive assessments
Projective assessments
Self-report questionnaires

It is important to note that these assessments are just one aspect of a comprehensive evaluation and should not be used as the sole basis for a diagnosis or treatment plan.

A children’s mental health qualifications professional should always be consulted to interpret the results and develop the most appropriate course of action.

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In the sections below, we will give you an overview of some of the most used child assessment tools for mental health that we have categorized based on the overall child mental health symptoms or potential diagnosis.

Mental Health Assessment Tools for Children & Youth | Child Screening Tests

Child mental health assessment tools we will cover in the sections below are used to assess a variety of mental health symptoms in children, including ADHD, anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, and executive functioning difficulties.

Child mental health assessment tools will typically involve rating scales or checklists completed by the child, parent, caregiver, teacher, or clinician.

The results of a child mental health assessment can be used to help make diagnoses, monitor treatment progress, and develop evidence-based interventions for children with mental health concerns and issues.

Moreover, mental health assessment tools for children and youth will serve mental health practitioners in determining how to improve children’s mental health.

Child Assessment Tools for Mental Health | Used for Multiple Child and Youth Mental Health Issues

The tools we will be discussing in this section can be used in screening for more than one mental health issue.

Here are some of the mental health assessment tools for children that will envelop more than one mental health issue:

Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) Screeners – Child Screening Tests: PHQ offers various screening tools, ranging from 2 to 83 questions, that assess mood problems, anxiety, eating disorders, alcohol use, and somatoform disorders.

PHQ-4: A 4-question child psychology questionnaire designed to screen for anxiety and depression in individuals aged 11 years and older in the general population.

PHQ-SADS: A longer child behavior assessment questionnaire with up to 38 questions that screen for anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and somatoform disorders in teens.

Brief PHQ: A 2-page version of the full PHQ with up to 34 questions. This children’s mental health questionnaire screens for depression, anxiety, somatoform disorders, alcohol abuse, and disordered eating in older teens in the general population.

Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC-17, PSC, PSC-Y/Y-PSC): Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) is a tool used to assess psychological, behavioral, and emotional symptoms in children and adolescents.

The PSC child mental health checklist includes a 17-item version (PSC-17) for quick screening and a 55-item version (PSC) for in-depth child mental health assessment. It can be used with children aged 4-17.

There are also youth and young person’s versions (PSC-Y, Y-PSC) for adolescents aged 12-18 years.

The PSC and variants of this child mental health checklist have been widely used in research and clinical practice, and have been shown to be effective in identifying children and adolescents in need of further evaluation and treatment.

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Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ): The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a 25-item screening tool for emotional and behavioral problems in children and adolescents aged 4-17.

This child behavior assessment questionnaire can be completed by parents, teachers, or young people and covers five domains of functioning.

The SDQ mental health assessment form child versions has been validated and shown to be a reliable tool for identifying those at risk for emotional and behavioral problems and for monitoring response to treatment.

Now that we’ve covered assessments that can be used to identify and diagnose multiple mental health and behavioral issues, in the sections below we will focus on mental health assessments and tools used specifically for anxiety, depression, and ADHD.

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Anxiety Child Mental Health Assessment Tools | Child Mental Health Symptom Checker

Anxiety assessments typically involve children’s mental health questionnaire and/or children’s mental health evaluation clinical interviews to assess the presence and severity of anxiety symptoms.

The following mental health for child and youth assessments are just some of many child screening tests used specifically for anxiety:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7): GAD-7 is a screening tool used to assess symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in children and adolescents.

This child health assessment questionnaire consists of 7 questions that assess the presence and severity of child mental health symptoms such as excessive worry, restlessness, and irritability. The responses are scored and used to calculate a total score, with higher scores indicating greater levels of anxiety.

The GAD-7 is a brief and easy-to-use child health questionnaire that can help identify children and adolescents who may be at risk for GAD and in need of further evaluation.

Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED Screening Tool): SCARED is a commonly used child mental health symptom checker for evaluating anxiety in children. The recommended age range for using the GAD-7 is not specified, but it is typically used with children over the age of 6 years old.

This child health questionnaire is designed to assess five common types of anxiety disorders in children: generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social phobia, separation anxiety disorder, and specific phobia. The child version of the SCARED is completed by the child, while the parent version is completed by the parent or caregiver.

This child mental health assessment questionnaire includes 41 questions, each asking about a specific symptom of anxiety. The responses are used to calculate a score for each type of anxiety disorder, which can help identify children who are at risk for an anxiety disorder and in need of further evaluation.

Best Child Assessment Questionnaires and Screeners

Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale (PARS): PARS is a child mental health test tool used to assess anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents.

This mental health test for children is designed to be completed by a clinician, who rates the presence and severity of anxiety symptoms based on information gathered from the child, parent, and/or other sources.

This children’s mental health questionnaire includes 50 questions assessing a range of anxiety symptoms, including physical symptoms (such as heart palpitations and sweating), behavioral symptoms (such as avoiding certain activities or people), and cognitive symptoms (such as worrying and rumination).

It covers three common types of anxiety disorders: Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD), Social Phobia, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

The responses on the PARS child health assessment questionnaire are used to calculate a total score, which can help identify children and adolescents who are at risk for an anxiety disorder and in need of further evaluation.

The results from the PARS mental health test for child can also be used to monitor response to treatment and track changes in anxiety symptoms over time.

Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) Screeners: As mentioned earlier, there are variations of this child health assessment questionnaire that can be used for assessing various mood problems, anxiety, eating disorders, alcohol use, and somatoform disorders.

You can read more about variations of this mental health test for children in the section above.

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Do you have additional feedback on child mental health symptom checker tools? Do you have any tips about child mental health assessment questionnaire tools in general? Click here to contact the Social Work Portal Team.

Depression Mental Health Assessment Tools for Children | Children’s Mental Health Evaluation

Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI & CDI2) Depression Questionnaire: The Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) (Kovacs, 1979) is a child health questionnaire based on the Beck Depression Inventory and adjusted to look for signs of depression in children and adolescents aged 7-17.

CDI mental health test for child consists of 27 items that assess a range of child mental health symptoms, including feelings of sadness, hopelessness, irritability, difficulty sleeping, and decreased energy levels.

CDI2 child mental health test is an updated version of the CDI with 25 items. It also includes changes to the item content, scoring, and age range.

In this child mental health test, the child can choose from three options to answer each question. The questions are organized into five categories: Anhedonia, ineffectiveness, interpersonal problems, negative mood, and negative self-esteem.

Children’s Depression Rating Scale (CDRS): The Children’s Depression Rating Scale (CDRS) (Poznanski, et al., 1979), which has been revised (CDRS-R), is a child psychology questionnaire for depression. It is used to detect signs of depression in children, aged 6 to 12.

This 17-item child health questionnaire and survey for depression in children is not formatted to be self-report, instead, it is filled out based on input from parent, child, and teacher interviews. It is based on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and covers several symptom areas of depression.

CDRS child mental health test includes items that assess a range of mental health symptoms in children, including feelings of sadness, hopelessness, irritability, difficulty sleeping, and decreased energy levels.

The responses on the CDRS mental health test for children are used to calculate a total score, with higher scores indicating more severe depression symptoms.

Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) Toolkit: ASQ Toolkit is a screening child mental health checklist and a questionnaire designed to help identify individuals who may be at risk of suicide. The ASQ Toolkit provides a set of standardized questions to assess suicide risk and determine the need for further evaluation or intervention.

ASQ Toolkit includes several versions of the child health assessment questionnaire, including a one-page version for use in primary care settings and a more comprehensive version for use in mental health settings. The questions focus on the child mental health symptoms and factors such as recent changes in mood or behavior, access to lethal means, and any history of suicide attempts.

ASQ Toolkit is intended to be used by trained children’s mental health qualifications professionals. This child mental health symptom checker is designed to be quick, easy to use, and culturally sensitive.

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Child Mental Health Test – Depression Symptoms

Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale (KADS): KADS is a self-report child mental health assessment questionnaire used to screen for depression in adolescents.

This child mental health assessment was designed specifically for use with young people and consists of 20 items that assess child mental health symptoms of depression such as sadness, hopelessness, loss of interest, and changes in appetite and sleep patterns.

KADS adolescent and children’s mental health questionnaire is quick and easy to administer and provides a score that can be used to determine the severity of depression mental health symptoms in children. The KADS can be used in clinical, educational, or community settings and is appropriate for use with adolescents aged 12 to 18 years old.

KADS is a widely used and well-validated child mental health assessment questionnaire that has been shown to have good reliability and validity. However, it is important to remember that the KADS is a screening tool and is not a substitute for a comprehensive mental health evaluation or diagnosis of mental health for child and youth. Individuals who score high on the KADS should be referred for a comprehensive evaluation by a children’s mental health qualifications professional.

Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) Screeners: PHQ Screeners are a set of self-report children’s mental health evaluation questionnaires designed to screen for various mental health conditions in children and adolescents, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and alcohol use.

There are several versions of the PHQ child screening tests, including PHQ-4, PHQ-SADS, and Brief PHQ – you can read more about each of the children’s mental health questionnaire in the sections above.

Do you have any questions about any of the child psychology questionnaire tools described above? Click here to contact the Social Work Portal Team.

ADHD Child Mental Health Assessment Tools | Mental Health Test for Children with ADHD

In this section, we will introduce some child screening tests that can help practitioners diagnose youth and children with ADHD.

As you will see some of them can be used for other disruptive behaviors and issues in mental health for child and youth care as well as ADHD.

Disruptive Behavior Rating Scale: DBRS is a child behavior assessment questionnaire used to assess and monitor disruptive behaviors in children and adolescents.

DBRS is designed to assess common mental health for child and youth behavioral problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD), and other disruptive behaviors.

The DBRS consists of a series of child mental health checklist questions that assess a range of behaviors, including impulsiveness, hyperactivity, inattention, defiance, aggression, and other disruptive behaviors.

Parents, teachers, other caregivers, or children’s mental health qualifications professionals fill out the DBRS based on the child’s behavior in various settings such as at home, at school, and in social settings.

DBRS is a useful mental health test for child as it allows mental health professionals to assess the presence and severity of disruptive behaviors in children and adolescents, and to monitor changes in behavior over time.

This child mental health assessment provides valuable information that can be used to develop effective treatment plans, monitor the progress of children receiving treatment, and best determine how to help children’s mental health.

Mental Health Test & Rating Scale for Child with ADHD

Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham (SNAP-IV): SNAP-IV Scale is a rating child mental health assessment tool used to assess symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents.

The SNAP-IV is a 26-item scale that is completed by parents or teachers based on the child’s behavior in various settings such as at home, at school, and other social settings.

The SNAP-IV assesses mental health symptoms in children such as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness, which are the core symptoms of ADHD according to the DSM-5 criteria.

The scale is designed to provide a quick and reliable assessment of ADHD symptoms and to help identify children who may benefit from further evaluation and treatment. It also helps children’s mental health qualifications professionals to best determine how to help children’s mental health get better over time.

Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC-17, PSC, PSC-Y/Y-PSC): This child mental health checklist is available in different versions, including the PSC-17, PSC-Y, and Y-PSC, which are designed for different age ranges and can be used with children as young as 4 years old.

Visit this section of our guide to learn more about the differences between each PSC mental health test for child variation.

While these are not all available child mental health assessment tools, we’ve covered the main child and youth mental health questionnaires, checklists, and screeners that mental health professionals will be using to best determine what approach to take and how to improve children’s mental health.

You can find a lot more pre-made intake and assessment templates in SWP’s All-in-One Client and Case Management toolkit for therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other mental health practitioners. Discover how our software can streamline your practice when working with children!

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Conclusion | Why Children’s Mental Health Is Important

We hope that this Social Work Portal guide on best child and youth mental health assessments has helped you grasp why children’s mental health is important and how to improve children’s mental health along with the help of child assessment tools for mental health.

We have not covered all available child mental health assessment tools, but we did our best to include the main child and youth mental health questionnaires, checklists, and screeners that mental health professionals will be using to best determine what approach to take and how to help children’s mental health.

It is crucial to note that none of the child assessment tools for mental health we mentioned in this guide should be used as diagnostic tools, and results should not be used to make a final diagnosis of anxiety, depression, ADHD, or any other mental health disorder.

These tools should always be used as part of a comprehensive evaluation, along with clinical interviews, observations, screeners, and other relevant information, to make a diagnosis and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

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Disclaimer: Content on this Social Work Portal (SWP) website is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with... Read our full disclaimer here: Social Work Portal Disclaimer.

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Do you have feedback on any of the methods and tools mentioned in our guide, such as the child mental health assessment questionnaire, child mental health symptom checker, or mental health test for children in general? If so, contact the Social Work Portal Team.

FAQ | Mental Health for Child & Youth

What is a child mental health assessment?

Child mental health assessment is the process of evaluating a child's emotional and behavioral functioning to determine if they have any mental health problems.

What are some most commonly used methods and mental health assessment tools used in youth and children evaluation?

Children’s mental health evaluation process can involve a variety of tools and methods, including:

•Mental health assessment form child, parent, or other caregiver(s) can fill
•General child health questionnaire
•Standardized tests & mental health screeners
•Child behavior assessment questionnaire
•Observations
•Interviews with the child and their caregivers
•And many more…

Why children’s mental health is important?

Additionally, mental health problems in childhood can have long-lasting effects, impacting a child’s physical health, ability to form healthy relationships, and overall quality of life.

Note: Content on Social Works socialworkportal.com website is copyrighted.

Social Work Portal Disclaimer: Social Work Portal is not a social work agency and we do not refer social workers. This web site is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with ... Read our full disclaimer here: Social Work Portal Disclaimer.

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