Mental Health Assessment - What to Expect
Mental health issues can have an enormous impact on the lives of people and their physical wellbeing. If you're concerned about your mental wellbeing it's essential to take action and seek help as soon as you can.
A new law has entered force, giving service users the right to have independent advocacy. It also imposes duties on local authorities, Health Boards, and other organizations to provide advocacy services.
What is a Mental Health Assessment?
Mental health assessments are made by healthcare professionals to help them understand the issues you face. They can help determine the most effective treatment options for you, regardless of whether that is therapy or medication. They can be used to track your treatment over time and evaluate its effectiveness.
A mental health evaluation begins with a discussion of your symptoms and how they impact your life. It's important to be honest with your health professional during this phase of the process, as it could have a significant impact on what kind of treatment you'll get.
The assessment process can include a variety of different methods, including interviews as well as psychometric tests. These questionnaires could be either verbal or written, and might ask questions about your feelings, thoughts and memories. They could also ask questions regarding things like your family history and prior mental health issues. In addition to these questions the healthcare professional might want to do a physical exam as part of the examination. This can help them rule any medical conditions which may be causing the symptoms you are suffering from, for example, thyroid or diabetes.
During the mental health assessment, the healthcare professional will observe your behavior and ask about any problems at home or at work. They may ask about your past experiences with drugs or alcohol and about any risk factors that could cause mental illness such as an ancestral history of depression or genetic traits. They might also inquire about any medication you're taking and will determine if any of your symptoms are related to specific medications.
In some cases, the healthcare professional may opt to conduct an in-depth psychological examination. This is typically conducted to find out more about the root of the symptoms as well as look at your personality, your past experiences, and interests. They may also perform tests to determine how your brain functions, such as testing your reaction time and your eye movements. These tests are known as neuropsychological tests.
A psychologist or psychiatrist may perform a psychiatric evaluation. These professionals are trained to diagnose and treating mental disorders. They will assess you using a combination of physical and psychological methods and will discuss your diagnosis with you in detail.
What happens during a mental health assessment ?
The doctor will ask about your thoughts and feelings, as well as your behavior. They will also consider any previous diagnoses or treatments you may have received. They will also consider your family history and social history and any other information that may aid them in determining the cause of your symptoms. Answer all questions honestly. This will give your doctor the best chance of making an accurate diagnosis.
The questions you are asked may be difficult or upsetting It is important that you be honest about your feelings and experiences in a candid manner. The assessment will allow your doctor to determine what may be the cause of your symptoms, and what treatment is best for you.
During the appointment the doctor will pay attention to your appearance, behavior and your interactions with other people. They will look for signs of psychosis, anxiety, or depression. They will also attempt to determine what you are feeling.
They will also want to know what type of work you do and if you take any medications. They should also find out if you've had any kind of trauma in the past and whether you know someone who has had similar issues. They will need to determine if you suffer from heart disease or diabetes, which could be responsible for the symptoms.
The assessment will take between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on the reason why you are being examined. The doctor may have to complete written or verbal assessments as well as perform an examination during the examination.
If you're not satisfied with the results of your mental health assessment You have the right to seek a second opinion. You can request this through your local NHS trust. You can also ask your doctor or care coordinator for advice and assistance.
What do I get from a mental health assessment?
The person who is assessing you will ask questions about your medical history, your family history and any symptoms that you have experienced. They might also review your past treatments for psychiatric disorders and the current medication. This is important as it assists professionals in ruling out physical causes of your symptoms.
Your examination will also involve physical examination. This may include urine and blood tests as well as a review your reflexes. If they suspect that you have a neurological problem it is possible to request an EEG scan or CT scan.
It's important to be honest during the interview and be able to answer all the assessing professional's questions. This will enable them to make an accurate diagnosis and determine which treatment is the best for you. But, keep in mind that it may take time to receive an accurate diagnosis. It's normal for people to experience some anxiety and frustration while waiting for a diagnosis.
In certain situations an extensive mental health assessment will involve the person being examined for signs of suicidal behavior or violence toward themselves or other people. This is often a very important aspect of the assessment and will require the assistance of a qualified psychotherapist.
If mental health assessors find that someone poses a threat to themselves or others, they might decide that this person needs to be admitted into a hospital. Depending on the circumstances they could be admitted immediately after the evaluation or at a later date.
The experts will also be able to observe how an individual interacts with family members and other people. They'll ask questions about the most significant sources of stress, as well as any traumatic events that may have been a part of the individual's life. Before the evaluation can begin the medical professional who will conduct it must have authorization and consent forms signed by the patient.
You can always seek an additional opinion if family members of the person are concerned that the professional assessing them might not be giving the best diagnosis. This can be done by their GP, private therapists, or community mental health services.
What should I do if I'm not happy with my mental health assessment?
If you aren't satisfied with the results of your assessment, it's important that you make a statement. Health and social care professionals should always provide a clear explanation of what will happen during an appointment and the length of time it will take. They should also inform you why and who will share your information and request your permission prior to sharing. You may bring an advocate, or a friend to your assessment. They could represent your interests and views. They could be professionals like lawyers or volunteers like mental health charity workers.
Some people might feel the process of having an assessment of their mental health challenging or even painful however, it's important to remember that the goal is to help you recover. If you're not able be open with the professional who's carrying out the assessment, it's unlikely that they'll be able and treat you appropriately.
NHS provides free mental health services However, you should be aware that there may be waiting lists and the wait could cause your symptoms to get worse. If you're not able to wait for treatment, you may pay privately for an assessment and treatment. This isn't for everyone, but it's a possibility if you can afford it.
It's important to remember that the NHS has changed. In parts of England, new Integrated Care Systems were introduced that connect different health care and health organizations. You could be referred to an entirely different Mental Health Team than before.
If you think the treatment or evaluation you're receiving isn't working for you, it's vital to let them know. It's not easy, but it's essential to be vocal. Your mental health professional is likely to be able arrange an appointment for a second opinion or refer you to another service. If they can't, it might be worth making a request for a complaint to be filed on your behalf by an independent advocacy organisation, such as Rethink or Mind.
If you move your home, the MHT should transfer all of your care to a new service as quickly as possible. However this isn't always the case. It's also a good idea to let your MHT know if you are moving home and this could affect the level of support you receive from them.