Mental Health Assessment - What to Expect
Mental health issues can have a a significant impact on the lives of people and their physical well-being. If you're concerned about your mental wellbeing, it's important to act and seek help as quickly as possible.
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 by healthcare professionals to help them understand your issues. They can assist in finding the most effective treatment for you, whether that is therapy or medication. They can also be used to keep track of your treatment over time and evaluate its effectiveness.
A mental health assessment begins with a discussion of your symptoms and the impact they have on your life. It's important to be honest with your health professional during this phase of the process because it could have a significant impact on the type of treatment you end up receiving.
The assessment process can include various methods, such as interviews and psychometric tests. These questionnaires can be verbal or written and may concentrate on questions regarding how you feel, your thoughts, and your memory. They may also ask questions regarding things like your family history and prior mental health issues. In addition to these questionnaires the healthcare professional might want to do physical examination as part of the assessment. This can help them determine any medical issues that could be contributing to your symptoms, for instance diabetes or thyroid problems.
When you undergo a mental health evaluation, a healthcare professional will be watching you and asking about any problems that you might be experiencing at work or at home. They might inquire about your previous experiences with drugs or alcohol and about any risk factors that could lead to mental illness like a family background of depression or genetic characteristics. They might also inquire about any medications you are taking and assess whether your symptoms are connected to specific medications.
In certain instances medical professionals may opt to conduct more thorough psychological tests. This is typically done to find out more about the root of symptoms and to look at your personality, your past experiences and interests. They might also do some tests to determine how your brain is functioning, such as measuring your reaction times and looking at your eye movements. These tests are referred to as neuropsychological testing.
A psychologist or psychiatrist can perform a psychiatric evaluation. They are trained in diagnosing and treating mental disorders. They will assess you with a mix of physical and psychological methods, and will discuss your condition with you in detail.
What happens during an assessment of mental health?
The doctor will inquire about your thoughts, feelings and behaviour. They will also look at any prior diagnoses or treatments you may have received. They will also take into consideration your family history, your social history as well as any other information they think could be useful in determining the root of your symptoms. Answer all questions truthfully. This will give your doctor the best chance to make an accurate diagnosis.
It is essential to be honest and open when answering the questions. The evaluation will help your physician determine what may be the cause of your symptoms, and what treatment is best for you.
During the visit, your doctor will also pay attention to how you are behaving in your appearance, how you dress and the manner in which you interact with others. They will be looking for signs of anxiety, depression or psychosis. They will look into the reasons you are experiencing the way you are.
They'll also want know what kind of work you do and if you use any medication. They will need to know about any previous traumas you've been through and will be interested in knowing if you have any relatives or friends who have experienced similar issues. They should know whether you have heart disease or diabetes, which could be the cause of the symptoms.
The examination should last between 30 to 90 minutes, based on the reason why you are being assessed. The doctor will have written or oral tests to complete during the examination and may perform a physical exam as well.
You have the right to seek an additional opinion if you are unhappy with the results of your mental health assessment. This can be done through your local NHS trust. You can also contact your doctor or care coordinator for advice and help.
What can I expect from a mental health evaluation?
The professional assessing you will ask questions about your medical history, family history as well as any symptoms you've been experiencing. They will also review your current medications as well as previous treatments for psychiatric issues. This is important as it will help professionals identify any physical cause for your symptoms.
The test will include a physical examination. This can include blood and urine tests as in addition to a review of your reflexes and balance. If you suspect that you have a neurological issue it is possible to request an EEG or CT scan.
It is essential to be honest and answer all questions posed by the professional assessing you. This will help them form an accurate diagnosis and decide the best treatment option for you. Be aware that it may take time to get an accurate diagnosis. It's normal for patients to experience anxiety and frustration as they wait for an answer.
In full mental health assessment will include checking an individual for indications of suicidal behavior or violence towards themselves or other people. This is an essential component of the assessment and you'll require the assistance of a trained professional.
If the mental health assessors discover that a person poses a threat to themselves or others, they could decide that the individual needs to be admitted to a hospital. Based on the circumstances, they may be admitted immediately after their assessment or at a later date.
The experts will also be able to observe how an individual interacts with family members and with other people. They'll ask questions about the most significant sources of stress, as well as any traumatic events that have been a part of the individual's life. Before the assessment can start the physician who will conduct it must have the consent and authorization forms signed by the individual.
You can always seek an additional opinion if family members of the person are concerned that the experts conducting the assessment might not be giving the best diagnosis. You can do this through your doctor, private therapists or community mental health services.
What can I do when I'm not satisfied with my mental health assessment report?
If you're unhappy with the results of your assessment It's crucial to say something. 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 why and who will share your personal information, and get your permission prior to sharing. You can bring a person who is a friend or an advocate to your appointment and they will be able to represent your opinions and interests. They could be professionals such as lawyers or volunteers like mental health workers from charities.
It's important to remember the goal of a mental health evaluation is to assist people in getting better. If you're not able to be honest with the professional who's conducting the assessment, it's unlikely that they'll be able to assess and treat you properly.
The NHS offers no-cost mental health services. However, it's worth examining whether there may be waiting lists for treatment and the wait could make your symptoms worse. If you're unable to wait, you could pay to have an evaluation and treatment in private. This isn't an option for all, but it's a possibility if you're able to afford it.
It's important to remember that the NHS has changed. New Integrated Care Systems have been rolled out in parts of England and these combine different health and care organisations. You could be referred to an entirely different Mental Health Team than before.
It is crucial to voice your concerns in the event that you don't agree with the treatment or the assessment. It can be difficult to voice your concerns however it's crucial. Your mental health professional should be able to arrange a second opinion or refer you to another service. If they don't, it might be worth making a request for a complaint to be made on your behalf by an independent advocacy organisation like Rethink or Mind.
If you decide to move to another location, the MHT will transfer all of your services to a new one as soon as is possible. However, this is not guaranteed. It's also worth letting your MHT know when you're moving house and this could affect the amount of support you receive from them.