ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the key components of a mental health nursing assessment, such as mental status, psycho-social assessment, assessment of substance use, medical and physical assessment and finally risk assessment. It focuses on building on strengths and aim to view the assessment process from the service user and carer's perspective. The elements of a mental health assessment involve mental status, communication, initiation of therapeutic relationships and meeting immediate needs. The elements of the mental health assessment will depend on issues such as the phase of a mental illness, whether a person is at risk of an acute episode and how assessment and care can be provided in the least restrictive environment. Physical illness is a stressor that constitutes a crisis particularly in combination with other psycho-social issues. In order to provide good psycho-social nursing care, accurate and ongoing nursing assessment is vital.
