Mental Health Assessment - What to Expect
Mental health issues can have a significant impact on people's mental and physical wellbeing. If you're worried about your mental wellbeing it's crucial to act and seek help as quickly as you can.
A new law is now in force, which grants clients the right to an independent advocacy. It also imposes obligations on local authorities and Health Boards to provide advocacy.
What is a Mental Health Assessment?
Mental health assessments are made for healthcare professionals to understand the issues you face. They can be used for to determine the best treatment option for you, whether it is medication or therapy. They can be used to track your treatment over time and assess its effectiveness.
A mental health assessment starts with a discussion about your symptoms and their impact on your life. It's important to be honest with your medical professional during this stage of the process, since it can have a big impact on what kind of treatment you'll end up receiving.
The assessment process could include psychometric tests and interviews. These questionnaires may be verbal or written, and may ask questions about your feelings, thoughts and memories. They may also ask questions about your family history, and any previous mental health issues. In addition to these questions medical professional may want to do physical examination as part of the examination. This can help them rule any medical conditions that may be contributing to the symptoms you're suffering from, for example, thyroid or diabetes.
During a mental health assessment, a healthcare professional will examine you and ask about any issues that you might face at home or at work. They may also inquire about your past experience with alcohol or drugs and any risk factors for mental illness, for instance, the family history of depression or genetic characteristics. They could also inquire about any medications you're taking and assess if your symptoms are related to certain medications.
In certain instances, the medical professional might decide to do a more thorough psychological exam. This is usually done to find out more about the cause of symptoms and to look at your personality, past experiences, and interests. They may also conduct tests to determine how your brain functions like taking your reaction time and looking at your eye movements. These tests are also known as neuropsychological testing.
A psychiatrist or psychologist can complete a psychiatric assessment. They are trained to diagnose and treating mental disorders. They will evaluate you using the use of both physical and psychological methods and discuss your diagnosis in detail.
What happens during a psychological assessment?
The doctor will ask you about your thoughts, feelings and behavior. They will also look at any prior diagnoses or treatments you may have received. They will also consider your family history, social history as well as any other information they believe may be helpful in determining the cause of your symptoms. Answer all questions honestly. This will give your doctor the best chance of making an accurate diagnosis.
Some of the questions that you are asked might be sensitive or upsetting However, it is vital to try to be honest about your feelings and experiences in a candid manner. This is because the assessment will help your doctor figure out what is causing your symptoms and which type of treatment would be the most suitable for you.
During the appointment the doctor will be paying attention to your appearance, behavior and your interactions with other people. They will look for signs of depression, anxiety or psychosis. They will also try to understand why you're experiencing the way you are.
They will also need to be aware of whether you are taking any medication and what kind of work you perform. They should also find out if you've had any kind of trauma in the past and if you know of someone who has had similar issues. They will also need to be aware of any medical condition that is causing the symptoms, such as heart disease or diabetes.
The examination is expected to last between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on the reason for being seen. The doctor may need to complete written or verbal assessments and perform an examination of the body during the exam.
You are entitled to seek a second opinion if you're not satisfied with the results of your mental health assessment. Your local NHS trust will have a system for this and can arrange it for you. Alternatively, you can ask your psychiatrist or care co-ordinator for advice and assistance on this.
What do I get from a mental health assessment?
The professional assessing you will ask questions about your medical history, family history, as well as any symptoms you've experienced. They may also review past psychiatric treatment and current medication. This review is important because it will allow professionals to rule out any physical reasons for your symptoms.
Your evaluation will consist of an examination of your body. It could involve urine and blood tests, as along with a review of your balance and reflexes. If there's a chance you're suffering from a neurological issue it is possible to request an EEG or CT scan.
It's important to be honest during the interview and answer all of the questions asked by the professional assessing you. This will help them identify the problem and determine what treatment is the best for you. But, keep in mind that it may take time to obtain an accurate diagnosis. It's normal for individuals to experience some anxiety and frustration as they wait for an answer.
In certain situations the full mental health assessment will involve examining an individual for any signs of suicidal behavior or violence toward them or others. This is often a very serious part of the assessment and will require the assistance of a trained therapist.
If the mental health assessors determine that someone poses a risk to themselves or others, they might decide that the person needs to be admitted to hospital. Based on the circumstances, they may be admitted immediately following their evaluation or after.
The assessing professionals will also be able observe how the person interacts with family and other people in their lives. They'll ask questions about the main sources of stress as well as any traumatizing events that have occurred in the life of the person. Before the evaluation can begin the physician who will be conducting it must have the consent and authorization forms signed by the patient.
If the individual's family members are concerned that the assessing professionals may not be providing the best diagnoses They can always request a second opinion. This can be done by their physician or private therapists, or community mental health services.
What can I do if I am not satisfied with my mental health assessment report?
It is important to let your voice be heard in the event that you are not happy with the results of an evaluation. Health and social care professionals must explain the appointment, indicating the nature of the appointment and how long it's expected to last. They should also inform you why and who will share your information and ask permission before sharing. You can bring an advocate, or a friend to your assessment. They can represent your interests and your views. They could be volunteers like mental health workers from charities or they could be professionals, like lawyers.
It's important to remember the goal of a mental health assessment is to assist people in getting better. If you're not able to be open with the person carrying out the assessment, it's unlikely that they'll be able to evaluate 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 unable to wait for treatment, you may pay privately to receive an assessment and treatment. This isn't for everyone, but it's a possibility if you can afford it.
It is also important to keep in mind that the way the NHS operates has changed. New Integrated Care Systems have been rolled out in parts of England and combine various health and care organizations. You may be referred by an entirely different Mental Health Team than before.
If you think the treatment or evaluation you're receiving doesn't work for you, it's vital to let them know. It can be difficult to express your opinion, but it is important. Your mental health professional should be able to arrange an additional opinion or refer you to another service. If they don't suggest it, you could contact an independent advocacy group like Rethink, or Mind, to make an appeal on your behalf.
If you move, the MHT will transfer your entire care to a new service as soon as is possible. However, this is not guaranteed. It is also important to let your MHT know that are moving, as it can impact the assistance you receive from them.