Mental Health Assessment - What to Expect
Mental health issues can have a an impact on the lives of people and their physical wellbeing. If you're concerned about your mental health, it's imperative to act and seek assistance as soon as you can.
A new law is now in force, which grants service users the right to have independent advocacy. It 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 aid healthcare professionals to understand the issues you're facing. They can be used to assist in to determine the best treatment option for you, regardless of whether it is therapy or medication. They can also be used to keep track of your treatment over time and determine its effectiveness.
A mental health assessment starts with a discussion about your symptoms and how they impact your life. It's essential to be open and honest during this phase. This can have a significant impact on the treatment you receive.
The assessment process may consist of psychometric tests or interviews. These questionnaires can be verbal or written and may focus on questions about how you feel as well as your thoughts and your memory. These questionnaires could also inquire about your family history and previous mental health issues. In addition to these questionnaires the healthcare professional might require an examination of your body as part of the assessment. This can help them identify any medical conditions that may be contributing to the symptoms you are experiencing, such as thyroid or diabetes.
During what is a 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 previous experiences with alcohol or drugs, and about any risk factors that could cause mental illness like an ancestral history of depression or genetic traits. They might also inquire about any medications you're taking and will determine whether any of your symptoms are connected to specific medications.
In certain instances, a medical professional may opt to conduct a more detailed psychological examination. This is typically conducted to find out more about the underlying cause of the symptoms as well as look at your personality, your past experiences, and interests. They may also perform tests to assess how your brain functions like taking your reaction time and observing your eye movements. These tests are called neuropsychological tests.
A psychiatric evaluation can be completed by a psychologist or psychiatrist. These are doctors with specialization in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. They will assess you using a combination of psychological and physical techniques, and will discuss your diagnosis with you in depth.
What happens during a psychological evaluation?
The doctor will ask about your thoughts and feelings as well as your behaviour. They will also take into consideration any previous diagnoses or treatments that you've received. They will also look at your family and social history and any other information that might help them determine the cause of your symptoms. Answer every question honestly. This will give the doctor the best chance of getting an accurate diagnosis.
Some of the questions you are asked could be difficult or upsetting However, it is vital that you be honest about your feelings and experiences openly. The evaluation will assist your doctor to determine what is causing your symptoms, and what treatment is best for you.
During the interview your doctor will also be looking at the way you behave in your appearance, how you dress and the way that you interact with other people. They will look for signs of anxiety, depression or psychosis. They will look into the reasons you are feeling the way that you are.
They will also need to be aware of whether you are taking any medication, and what kind of work you do. They will also want to find out if you've had any previous trauma and whether you know someone who has had similar problems. They will want to be aware of whether you suffer from heart disease or diabetes, which could be causing the symptoms.
The assessment could last between 30 and 90 minutes, depending the reason you are seen. The doctor will have written or verbal tests to take during the exam and may carry out a physical examination as well.
If you aren't satisfied with the outcome of your mental health assessment You have the right to seek a second opinion. Your local NHS trust will have a procedure for this and will be able to arrange it for you. You can also ask your psychiatrist or care co-ordinator for advice and assistance on this.
What should I expect from an assessment of my mental health?
The doctor who examines you will ask you questions about your medical history, your family history as well as any symptoms that you have been experiencing. They may also review past treatment for psychiatric issues and current medication. This review is important because it can help doctors identify any physical cause for your symptoms.
Your examination will also involve physical examination. This could include blood and urine tests, as along with an examination of your reflexes and balance. If there's a chance you have a neurological issue, they may also order an EEG or CT scan.
It is crucial to be truthful during the interview and answer all of the questions of the professional who is assessing. This will allow them to form an accurate diagnosis and determine the most effective treatment option for you. However, remember that it could take time to get an accurate diagnosis. It's normal for patients to feel anxious and frustrated while they wait for a diagnosis.
In some cases the assessment of mental health will include an in-depth exam of the patient to find signs such as suicidal thoughts or aggression toward themselves or others. This is often a serious aspect of the evaluation and requires the assistance of a qualified therapist.
If the mental health assessors determine that someone is a danger to themselves or others, they might decide that the individual needs to be admitted to a hospital. Depending on their circumstances the person could be admitted immediately after their assessment or later.
The professionals assessing the person will be able to observe how the individual interacts with their family and with other people in their life. They will inquire about the most important causes of stress, as well as any traumatizing experiences the person has been through. The medical professionals who conduct the assessment will need to have completed authorization and consent forms from the patient before the evaluation can begin.
You can always seek a second opinion if the family members of the individual are concerned that the professional who are evaluating them may not be giving the best diagnosis. This can be done through your doctor, private therapists or community mental health services.
What should I do if I am not satisfied with my mental health assessment report?
It's important to speak up if you are not satisfied with the outcome of an assessment. Health and social care professionals should always explain what will happen during an appointment and the length of time it will take. They should also inform you who they'll be sharing information with and for what reason, and ask for your permission prior to sharing any information. You can bring a person who is a friend or advocate with you to your assessment and they will be able to represent your views and interests. They could be professionals such as lawyers or volunteers like mental health workers from charities.
Some people may feel the process of having a mental health assessment difficult or even painful, but it's important to remember that the aim is to help you improve. If you're unable to communicate with the person carrying out the assessment, it's unlikely that they'll be able to evaluate and treat you appropriately.
NHS offers free mental health services however, you must be aware that there may be waiting lists, and waiting could make your symptoms worse. If you're not able to wait, you can pay for an assessment and treatment privately. This isn't an option for everyone, but it's a possibility if you're able to afford it.
It's also worth keeping in your mind that the way in which the NHS operates has changed. New Integrated Care Systems have been implemented in various parts of England and bring together different health and care organisations. You may be referred by an entirely different Mental Health Team than before.
It's important that you voice your concerns when you are not happy with the treatment or the assessment. It isn't easy to express your opinion but it's important. Your mental health professional will be able arrange for an additional opinion, or refer you to another service. If they don't then you may want to seek out an independent advocacy group like Rethink or Mind to file a complaint on your behalf.
The MHT should transfer your services to the new one as soon as is possible if you move, but it's not guaranteed. It's also a good idea to let your MHT know that you're moving to a new home in order to determine the level of support you receive from them.