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Diagnosis of a mental health condition is often made after a primary care physician consults with many other health professionals, including mental health professionals such as psychologists or psychiatrists.

Most types of mental illness cannot be identified through diagnostic procedures such as imaging tests, blood tests or urinalysis. Instead, mental health professionals use structured interviewing techniques  in which information gleaned from a patient’s signs (observations made objectively by the health professional) and symptoms (subjective feelings or emotions reported by the patient) lead to a likely diagnosis.

To approach the diagnosis of mental illnesses, mental health professionals rely on the criteria outlined in  the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which is published by American Psychiatric Association, or The International Classification of Disease (ICD), which is published by the World Health Organization. These guidelines provide standardized definitions and criteria which help the professionals categorize mental illnesses based on descriptions of symptoms and on the course of the illness.

The examiner will also pay close attention to any functional impairments the patient may have. A functional impairment is an inability to perform basic daily tasks. This can include anything from having difficulty dressing for work to fear of carrying out basic errands such as grocery shopping.

The professional may also ask a series of questions to gain additional insight into the patient’s condition. Such questions may include:

• For how long has the patient been experiencing symptoms?
• How severe are the patient's symptoms?
• Are the symptoms upsetting to the patient?
• Are the symptoms disruptive to the patient’s life?

Psychological tests and scales are also commonly used for the measurement of cognition, abilities, attitudes, and personality traits.

Patients are sometimes reluctant to seek mental health care because of the stigma attached to mental illness. Nonetheless, mental health treatment is becoming more accepted by society and those who do seek care often find that good treatment solutions are available.