Mental Health Assessment - What to Expect
Mental health issues can have a huge impact on a person's mental and physical well-being. If you're concerned about your mental health it's crucial to act and seek help as soon as you can.
A new law has come into force, granting service users the right to seek independent advocacy. The law also imposes obligations on local authorities, Health Boards, and other organizations to provide advocacy services.
What is a mental health assessment?
Mental health assessments are designed to help medical professionals understand the challenges you're facing. They can be used for to determine the best treatment option for you, whether it is therapy or medication. They can also be used to determine the effectiveness of your current treatment as well as monitor changes over time.
A mental health assessment starts with a discussion of your symptoms and their impact on your life. It's important to be open with your health professional during this phase of the process, since it can have a big impact on the type of treatment you'll end up receiving.
The assessment process can include various methods, including interviews as well as psychometric tests. These questionnaires may be verbal or written, and they might ask questions about your thoughts, feelings and memories. These questionnaires could also inquire about your family history or previous mental health problems. In addition to these questions the healthcare professional might decide to conduct physical examination as part of the evaluation. This will help them determine any medical conditions which may be causing the symptoms you are suffering from, for example, thyroid or diabetes.
During a mental health assessment an expert in healthcare will observe you and ask about any issues you might be experiencing at work or at home. They may also inquire about your past experiences with drugs or alcohol and any risk factors for mental illness, like the family history of depression or genetic characteristics. They could also inquire about any medication you're taking and check whether your symptoms are connected to specific medications.
In some cases, a healthcare professional will choose to conduct more thorough psychological tests. The majority of times, they will conduct this to collect more information about the cause of your symptoms. They will examine your previous experiences and relationships, your personality, and interests. They may also perform tests to determine how your brain functions like taking your reaction time and observing your eye movements. These tests are also known as neuropsychological testing.
A psychiatric evaluation can be conducted by a psychologist or psychiatrist. They are skilled in diagnosing and treating mental disorders. They will evaluate you using a combination of psychological and physical methods and will discuss your diagnosis with you in depth.
What happens during a mental health assessment?
The doctor will ask you about your thoughts, feelings and behavior. They will also look at any prior diagnoses or treatments you might have had. They will also look at your family history, your social history, and any other information they think could be useful in determining the source of your symptoms. Answer all questions honestly. This will give your doctor the best chance to provide an accurate diagnosis.
It is crucial to be honest and transparent when answering the questions. This is because the examination will assist your doctor in figuring out what could be the cause of your symptoms and what kind of treatment would be the most suitable for you.
During the examination, your doctor will also take note of how you are behaving, your appearance and the way you interact with others. They will look for signs of anxiety, depression or psychosis. They will attempt to determine why you might be experiencing the way you are.
They'll also want know what kind of work you do and if you take any medication. They will also want to be aware of if you've experienced any trauma in the past and if you know of someone who has had similar issues. They should also know if you suffer from a medical condition that could be responsible for your symptoms, such as diabetes or heart disease.
The assessment could last between 30 minutes and 90 minutes depending on why you are being examined. The doctor will ask you to complete written or verbal tests to take during the examination and may carry out a physical examination as well.
If you aren't satisfied with the results of your mental health assessment You have the right to request a second opinion. You can request this through your local NHS trust. You can also consult your psychiatrist or care coordinator for advice and help.
What can I expect from a mental health evaluation?
The professional assessing you will ask you questions about your medical history, your family history as well as any symptoms you've experienced. They might also review your past psychiatric treatment and current medication. This is important since it will allow professionals to identify any physical cause for your symptoms.
The test will include physical examination. This may include urine and blood tests and a review of your reflexes. If there's a chance you're suffering from a neurological issue, they may also order an EEG or CT scan.
It is crucial to be truthful during the interview and be able to answer all the assessing professional's questions. This will enable them to determine the most accurate diagnosis and determine what treatment is the best for you. Remember that getting an accurate diagnosis can take a long time. It's common for people to feel anxious and frustrated while they wait for a diagnosis.
In some cases the full mental health assessment may involve the person being examined for signs of suicidal behavior or violence towards them or others. This is a very important part of the assessment, and you will need the help of a trained professional.
If mental health assessors find that someone poses a risk to themselves or others, they could determine that the person needs to be admitted into a hospital. Depending on the circumstances they may be admitted immediately after their assessment or at a later date.
The assessing professionals will also be able to see how the person interacts with their family and other people in their life. They'll ask questions about the main sources of stress as well as any traumatic events that have occurred in the life of the person. The doctors who perform the evaluation will need to have completed authorization and consent forms from the patient before they can begin the assessment.
You can always seek an alternative opinion if family members of the individual are concerned that the professionals assessing them might not give the best diagnosis. You can do this by contacting your GP or private therapists as well as community mental health services.
What should I do if I'm unhappy with my mental health assessment?
If you're unhappy with the results of your assessment, it's important that you say something. Health and social care professionals should always be able to explain what happens during an appointment and the length of time it will take. They should also inform you who they will be sharing information with and for what reason and get your consent prior to sharing information. You can invite an advocate, or a friend to your assessment. They can represent your interests and opinions. They could be volunteers like mental health charity workers or they can be professionals, like lawyers.
Some people might be able to find the experience of undergoing an assessment of their mental health challenging or even painful however, it's important to remember that the purpose is to help you recover. If you aren't honest with the professional who is conducting the assessment they won't be able to assess you and treat you appropriately.
The NHS provides free mental health services but it's worth considering that there might be waiting lists for treatment and waiting can make your condition worse. If you're unable to wait for treatment, you may pay privately to receive an assessment and treatment. how to get mental health assessment is not an option for everyone, but when you can afford it, it's worth taking into consideration.
It is important to keep in mind that the NHS has changed. New Integrated Care Systems have been rolled out in parts of England and they connect different health and care organisations. You could be referred by an entirely different Mental Health Team than before.
It is crucial to voice your concerns if you don't like the treatment or assessment. It can be difficult to speak up but it's important. Your mental health professional will be able arrange for an additional opinion or recommend you to a different service. If they do not, you might want to ask an independent advocacy group, such as Rethink or Mind to file a complaint on your behalf.
The MHT should transfer your care to the new service in the shortest time possible in the event of a move, but it's not guaranteed. It's also important to let your MHT know that you're moving house, as this can affect how much support you get from them.