Mental Health Consumer Self Assessment

Introduction to K-10 Online

In public mental health systems in Australia, consumers should be offered a consumer self-assessment measure at admission and at discharge from a service, at the standard review or at the request of the consumer.

Although the measure varies across jurisdictions, the majority of states and territories use the Kessler – 10. AMHOCN is making this measure available to consumers to complete online and are encouraging consumers to then take the results to their clinicians to discuss in more detail, or seek other appropriate services.

You may not be receiving services from a public mental health service and choose to complete this questionnaire in order to assist you in seeking appropriate support. Please keep the following in mind:

• The measure is for use by people aged over 15.
• Questions relate to your feelings and behaviour.
• Upon answering all questions you will receive an immediate result and further information.
• You will have access to further comparative reports.
• To ensure your confidentiality, we don't ask for names, addresses or phone numbers. We will ask you your sex and general age group. This will enable us to make any feedback more useful.
• Your score will indicate that you are in the high, average or low range of severity and will suggest services and resources you may wish to access.

A brief computerised assessment is not the same as a full assessment by a health professional. Maybe both are needed. If in doubt, consult your GP or other mental health professional.

Acknowledgement: Professor Ronald C Kessler of the Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School is thanked for the use of research on the K10 funded by US Public Health Service Grants RO1 MH46376, R01 MH52861, RO1 MH49098, and K05 MH00507 and by the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation Network on Successful Midlife Development (Gilbert Brim, Director).