Mental Health Assessment - What to Expect
Mental health issues can have a huge impact on people's physical and mental wellbeing. If you're concerned about your mental health it's crucial to act and seek help as soon as you can.
A new law is in force that gives service users the right to 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 designed to help healthcare professionals to understand the issues you're facing. They can be used to assist in finding the most effective treatment 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 begins with a discussion about your symptoms and the impact they have on your daily life. It's important to be open and honest during this phase. This can affect the treatment you receive.
assessment in mental health may consist of psychometric tests or interviews. These questionnaires could be written or verbal, and can focus on questions about how you feel as well as your thoughts and your memory. These questionnaires could also inquire about your family history or previous mental health issues. In the course of the examination, the healthcare professional will conduct a physical examination. This will aid in determining any medical conditions that could be causing your symptoms, for instance thyroid issues or diabetes.
In a mental health assessment A healthcare professional will examine you and ask about any problems that you might face at home or at work. They may ask about your previous experiences with drugs or alcohol and about any risk factors that could cause mental illness such as an ancestral history of depression or genetic characteristics. They may also ask you about any medication you're taking and determine whether your symptoms are connected to certain medications.
In certain instances, a healthcare professional will decide to perform more thorough psychological tests. They will usually utilize this procedure to gather more details about the source of your symptoms. They will review your past experiences, relationships, personality, and hobbies. They may also perform tests to determine how your brain functions including testing your reaction time and your eye movements. These tests are known as neuropsychological testing.
A psychiatric evaluation can be conducted by a psychologist or psychiatrist. These are doctors with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. They will evaluate you using the use of both psychological and physical methods and will explain your diagnosis in detail.
What happens during an assessment of mental health?
The doctor will ask about your thoughts and feelings, as well as your behaviour. They will also look at any previous diagnoses or treatments that you may have received. They will also take into consideration your family history, your social history, and any other information they think could be useful in determining the cause of your symptoms. It is important that you answer all questions honestly. This will give your doctor the best chance to provide an accurate diagnosis.
The questions you are asked could be sensitive or upsetting It is important that you try to be honest about your feelings and experiences with confidence. The evaluation will assist your doctor to determine what is causing your symptoms, and the best treatment for you.
During the interview the doctor will observe your appearance, behavior and how you interact with other people. They will look for any signs of anxiety, depression or psychosis. They will look into the reasons you might be feeling the way that you are.
They will also want to know what type of work you perform and if you use any medication. They should also know about any previous traumas you've experienced and will want to know if have any relatives or friends who have had similar experiences. They should also know if you suffer from a medical condition that could be causing your symptoms, like heart disease or diabetes.
The test can last anywhere between 30 minutes and 90 minutes, depending the reason you are assessed. The doctor might have to complete written or verbal assessments and perform a physical exam during the examination.
You are entitled to seek an additional opinion if you're not satisfied with the results of your mental health assessment. Your local NHS trust will have a procedure to handle this and can arrange for it. Alternately, you can contact your doctor or care coordinator for assistance and advice on this.
What can I expect from a mental health assessment?
The doctor who examines you will ask questions about your medical history, family history as well as any symptoms you've experienced. They might also review your past treatments for psychiatric disorders and the current medication. This is essential as it assists professionals in ruling out physical causes of your symptoms.
The test will also include a physical exam. This may include urine and blood tests as well as a review your reflexes. If you suspect that you're suffering from a neurological issue, they may also order an EEG 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 help them form an accurate diagnosis and decide the most effective treatment option for you. Be aware that it can take some time to obtain an accurate diagnosis. It's normal for people to experience anxiety and frustration while waiting for an answer.
In some instances 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 usually a serious part of the assessment and will require the help of a trained therapist.
If mental health assessors decide that someone poses a risk to themselves or others, they may determine that the person needs to be admitted to a hospital. Depending on the circumstances, they might be admitted right after the evaluation or at a later date.
The professionals will also be able see how a person interacts with relatives and other individuals. They'll ask questions about the biggest sources of stress and about any traumatic events that may have occurred in the person's life. Before the assessment can start the physician who will be conducting the assessment must have authorization and consent forms signed by the patient.
You can always seek an additional opinion if family members of the individual are concerned that the professionals who are evaluating them may not be giving the best diagnosis. You can do this by contacting your GP or private therapists, or through community mental health services.
What should I do if I'm unhappy with my mental health assessment?
It's important to speak up in the event that you are not happy with the outcome of an assessment. Health and social care professionals should always provide a clear explanation of what will happen during an appointment and how long it will last. They should also inform you the reasons and the reason they will share your personal information, and get your permission prior to sharing. You can invite an advocate, or a friend to your assessment. They can represent your interests and opinions. They can be professionals such as lawyers, or even volunteers like mental health workers from charities.
Some people might be able to find the experience of undergoing a mental health assessment difficult or stressful however, it's important to remember that the aim is to help you recover. If you're unable to communicate with the professional carrying out the assessment, it's not likely that they'll be able and treat you appropriately.
The NHS provides free mental health services. However, it's worth examining whether there might be waiting lists for treatment, and waiting can make your condition worse. If you're not able to wait, you could pay for an evaluation and treatment in private. This is not an option for everyone, but if you are able to afford it, it's worth considering.
It's also worth bearing in mind that the manner 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 crucial to be vocal if you don't like the treatment or assessment. This can be challenging but it's crucial to speak up. Your mental health professional will be able to arrange for an additional opinion, or suggest an alternative service. If they aren't then it could be worth making a request for a complaint to be made on your behalf by an independent advocacy organization, such as Rethink or Mind.
If you decide to move to another location, the MHT will transfer all of your care to a new service as quickly as they can. However, this is not guaranteed. It's also a good idea to let your MHT know that you're moving house and this could affect how much support you get from them.