Are Online Mental Health Tests Accurate?

In the wake of becoming the emotionally intelligent, healthy, and mentally sound individuals we all wish to be, assessing the baseline state of mental health is a crucial part of the process.

If you’re simply having feelings or experiences that you don’t understand and want to know more about the state of your own mental health, this information will be even more crucial to obtain.

Online vs. In-person Mental Health Tests

The accuracy of this type of assessment is extremely important. Online, you can find a variety of tests claiming to provide such results. Some of these are meant to be fun, sensationalized, playful nudges at the possibility of a condition. Often taking everyday traits like preferring to be around people and correlating them with the closest corresponding disorder.

This is dangerous, most obviously for those who do not know the accuracy of the test at hand, and for those who are struggling with their mental state, to begin with.

There are some assessments online that can offer a snapshot of what assessing a disorder or trait would really require. These can be helpful to share with a mental health provider but are by no means an adequate way to make a medical diagnosis on their own.

As we live in a society that caters to the online persona, can online mental health tests be the next big thing? Is it possible to break down the barriers, the stigma, and the self-imposed shame of reaching out for help?

In its bare essence, it seems it can be possible. If online mental health tests do partner with therapists and experts in the subject matter, then why not. Suddenly, anyone questioning or struggling with their idea of mental health can sit down, take a test, and at least get an initial blueprint of what to do next. For some, that might be further exams and eventually therapy sessions. For others, that might simply be more meditation sessions and looking for healthy outlets to blow off steam.

Whatever the case, the question remains: can these online mental health tests be accurate? What’s your take on them.