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 is crucial to act and seek help as soon as you can.
A new law has come into force, giving 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 assist healthcare professionals understand the problems you're experiencing. They can assist in finding the most effective treatment for you, whether that is medication or therapy. They can be used to monitor your treatment over time and assess its effectiveness.
A mental health assessment begins with a discussion of your symptoms and how they impact your life. It's important to be honest during this phase of the process. This could be a major influence on the treatment you receive.
The assessment process can include interviews and psychometric testing. These questionnaires can be written or verbal and could focus on questions about how you feel about your thoughts, how you feel, and your memory. These questionnaires could also inquire about your family history or any previous mental health issues. As part of the evaluation, the healthcare professional will conduct a physical examination. This will help them rule out any medical issues that could be causing your symptoms, for instance thyroid issues or diabetes.
During the mental health assessment, the healthcare professional will observe your behaviour and ask you about any issues you may have at home or at work. They may inquire about your history with drugs or alcohol and about any risk factors that could contribute to mental illness such as an ancestral history of depression or genetic characteristics. They might also ask about any medications you're taking and determine if any of your symptoms are related to a specific medication.
In certain instances, the medical professional might decide to conduct a more in-depth psychological examination. The majority of times, they will utilize this procedure to gather more information about the cause of your symptoms, and will review your past experiences and relationships, your personality, and other interests. They may also conduct tests to assess how your brain functions like measuring your reaction times and looking at your eye movements. These tests are called neuropsychological tests.
A psychiatric examination is performed by a psychiatrist or psychologist. They are doctors who have specialist training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. They will assess you with a mix of psychological and physical techniques, and will discuss the diagnosis with you in detail.
What happens during a psychological assessment?
The doctor will ask about your thoughts and feelings as well as your behaviour. They will also take into account any previous diagnoses and treatment that you have had. They will also take into consideration your family history, your social history and any other information they believe may be helpful in determining the source of your symptoms. Answer every question honestly. This will give your doctor the best chance of making an accurate diagnosis.
It is important to be honest and forthcoming when answering the questions. The assessment will allow your doctor to determine what may be the reason for your symptoms and what treatment is most suitable for you.
During the visit, your doctor will also take note of how you are behaving in your appearance, how you dress and the manner in which you interact with others. They will look for any signs of anxiety, depression or psychosis and will look into the reasons you are experiencing the way you do.
They should also be aware of if you're taking any medication and what sort of work you are doing. They will need to know about any traumas you have experienced and will want to know if have any friends or family who have experienced similar issues. They will want to know whether you have heart disease or diabetes which could be the cause of the symptoms.
The assessment is expected to take between 30 to 90 minutes, based on the reason why you are being examined. The doctor will ask you to complete written or oral tests to take during the assessment and might conduct a physical exam as well.
If you are not happy with the results of your mental health assessment, you have the right to request an additional opinion. You can request this through your local NHS trust. Alternatively, Iam Psychiatry can ask your psychiatrist or care co-ordinator for advice and assistance on this.
What should I expect from an assessment for mental health?
The professional assessing you will inquire about your medical history, family history, and any other symptoms you've experienced. They may also review past psychiatric treatment and current medication. This review is important because it will allow professionals to identify any physical cause for your symptoms.
Your evaluation will consist of physical examination. This can include urine and blood tests as along with an examination of your balance and reflexes. If they suspect that you have a neurological issue, they might also order an EEG scan or CT scan.
It is crucial to be truthful during the interview and be able to answer all the questions asked by the professional assessing you. This will assist them in making an accurate diagnosis and determine the most effective treatment option for you. Remember that getting an accurate diagnosis may take time. It's normal for patients to be anxious and angry while waiting for a diagnosis.
In certain situations, an assessment of mental health could include a thorough examination of the individual to identify indicators such as suicidal thoughts or violence toward themselves or others. This is an important part of the assessment, and you will need the help of a trained professional.
If the mental health assessors determine that someone poses a risk to themselves or to others, they may decide that the individual needs to be hospitalized. Based on the circumstances, they may be admitted immediately after the assessment or at a later date.
The professionals who assess the patient will be able to see how the person interacts with their family and other people in their life. They will inquire about the main sources of stress and any traumatic events that the individual has had. Before the evaluation can begin the medical professional who will be conducting the assessment must have the consent and authorization forms signed by the individual.
You can always get an additional opinion if family members of the person are concerned that the experts conducting the assessment might not be giving the best diagnosis. This can be done via their GP or private therapists, or community mental health services.
What can I do if I am not happy with my mental health assessment report?
If you aren't satisfied with the results of your examination It's crucial to tell someone. Health and social care professionals must always explain the appointment, indicating the time it will be held and how long it is scheduled to last. They should also inform you why and who will share your information and request your permission prior to sharing. You can invite a friend, or advocate to your appointment. They can represent your interests and opinions. They can be volunteers, like mental health professionals, or they could be professionals, such as lawyers.
It's crucial to remember that the goal of a mental health assessment is to help people get better. If you're not able be honest with the professional carrying out the assessment, it's unlikely they'll be able and treat you effectively.
NHS offers free mental health care however, you must be aware that there could be waiting lists and that waiting can make your symptoms worse. If you're not able to wait, you can pay for an assessment and treatment done privately. This is not an option for everyone, but when you can afford it, it's worth considering.
It's important to remember that the NHS has changed. New Integrated Care Systems have been rolled out in parts of England and these bring together different health and care organisations. You could be referred by a different Mental Health Team than before.
If you feel that the treatment or evaluation you're receiving isn't working for you, it's crucial to voice your concerns. It can be difficult to voice your concerns, but it is important. Your mental health professional is likely to be able arrange an appointment for a second opinion or refer you to another service. If they aren't then it could be worth seeking a complaint be filed on your behalf by an independent advocacy organisation such as Rethink or Mind.
If you decide to move to another location, the MHT should transfer all your support to a new provider as quickly as possible. However this isn't always the case. It's also important to let your MHT know if you're moving house in order to determine the level of support you receive from them.