Practice Test Geeks(SSW) School Social Worker Practice Test
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Mental Health Flashcards

7 cards from real SSW practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Mental Health flashcards as text

  1. A school social worker notices a student showing persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, and fatigue for over two weeks. Which DSM-5 diagnosis should be considered first?

    Answer: Major Depressive Disorder

    Major Depressive Disorder requires at least two weeks of depressed mood or loss of interest plus additional symptoms affecting functioning.

  2. Which evidence-based intervention is MOST appropriate for a middle school student experiencing generalized anxiety disorder?

    Answer: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

    CBT is the gold-standard, most empirically supported treatment for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents.

  3. A student discloses they have been hearing voices telling them they are worthless. The school social worker should FIRST:

    Answer: Complete a mental status exam and assess for safety

    A thorough mental status exam and safety assessment must occur first to determine the nature, severity, and risk associated with the auditory hallucinations.

  4. Under IDEA, a student's emotional disturbance classification requires that the condition:

    Answer: Adversely affect educational performance over a long period of time

    IDEA defines emotional disturbance as a condition that adversely affects educational performance and has been exhibited over a long period and to a marked degree.

  5. A student with PTSD is triggered by loud noises in the hallway. Which trauma-informed school strategy is MOST appropriate?

    Answer: Developing a individualized safety plan with sensory accommodations

    A safety plan with specific sensory accommodations addresses the trauma trigger while keeping the student integrated in the school environment.

  6. Which screening tool is specifically designed to identify depression in adolescents in a school setting?

    Answer: Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescents (PHQ-A)

    The PHQ-A is a validated, adolescent-specific adaptation of the PHQ-9 widely used to screen for depression in school-aged youth.

  7. A school social worker is supporting a student recently diagnosed with OCD. Obsessions are BEST defined as:

    Answer: Intrusive, unwanted thoughts that cause marked distress

    Obsessions are recurrent, persistent, intrusive thoughts, urges, or images that cause significant anxiety or distress.