Mental Health Assessment - What to Expect
Mental health problems can have an enormous impact on people's lives as well as their physical health. If you are worried about your mental health, it is important to take action and seek help as soon as possible.
A new law is now in force that grants service users the right to an independent advocacy. It also places duties on local authorities and Health Boards to provide advocacy services.
What is a Mental Health Assessment?
Mental health assessments are created for healthcare professionals to understand your problems. 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 assess the effectiveness of your current treatment as well as monitor changes over time.
A mental health assessment starts by discussing your symptoms and the impact they have on your daily life. It is crucial to be honest with the healthcare professional during this part of the process, since it could have a significant influence on the kind of treatment you end up receiving.
The assessment process may consist of psychometric tests or interviews. These questionnaires can be written or verbal and could concentrate on questions regarding how you feel, your thoughts, and your memory. They may also include questions about things like your family history and prior mental health issues. In the course of the examination, the healthcare professional will conduct a physical examination. This can help them rule out any medical conditions that may be causing your symptoms, for instance diabetes or thyroid problems.
During the mental health assessment, the health professional will monitor your behavior and ask about any issues at home or at work. They might inquire about your previous experiences with alcohol or drugs, and about any risk factors that could lead to mental illness such as a family background of depression or genetic characteristics. They could also inquire about any medication you're taking and assess if your symptoms are related to certain medications.
In certain situations medical professionals may choose to conduct a more detailed psychological examination. They will usually use this to gather more information regarding the root of your symptoms, and will look at your past experiences as well as your relationships, personality and interests. They may also perform tests to see the way your brain works including testing your reaction time and your eye movements. These tests are known as neuropsychological tests.
A psychiatric examination is performed by a psychiatrist or psychologist. These are doctors with specialist training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. They will assess you using the use of both physical and psychological methods and will discuss your condition in depth.
What happens during an assessment of mental health?
The doctor will ask you about your thoughts, feelings and behavior. They will also consider any prior diagnoses or treatments you may have received. They will also consider your family history, your social history and any other information they think may be helpful in determining the cause of your symptoms. It is essential to answer all the questions honestly. 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. This is because the evaluation will help your doctor work out what is causing your symptoms and which type of treatment would be the most suitable for you.
During the interview your doctor will also be looking at the way you behave as well as your appearance and way that you interact with other people. They will be looking for any signs of anxiety, depression or psychosis and will attempt to determine why you might be feeling the way that you do.
They'll also want to know what kind of work you do and if you are taking any medication. They should be aware about any previous traumas you've experienced and will be interested in knowing if you have any relatives or friends who have experienced similar issues. They will need to know whether you have heart disease or diabetes which could be responsible for the symptoms.
The test can last anywhere between 30 and 90 minutes based on why you are being assessed. The doctor will ask you to complete written or verbal tests to complete during the exam and may carry out a physical examination as well.
You are entitled to seek a second opinion if you're not satisfied with the results of your mental health assessment. You can request this through your local NHS trust. You can also ask your psychiatrist or care coordinator for advice and assistance.
What can I expect from a mental health assessment?
The person who is assessing you will ask questions about your medical history, your family history as well as any symptoms you've experienced. They might also review your past psychiatric treatment and current medications. This is important because it helps professionals rule out physical causes of your symptoms.
The test will also include an examination of your body. This could include blood and urine tests, as along with an assessment of your balance and reflexes. If there's a chance you're suffering from a neurological issue you may also be referred to an EEG or CT scan.
It is crucial to be truthful during the interview, and to answer all of the questions asked by the professional assessing you. This will help them identify the problem and determine the treatment that is best for you. But, keep in mind that it may take time to obtain an accurate diagnosis. It's common for patients to be anxious and angry while waiting for a diagnose.
In some instances the assessment of mental health will include a thorough examination of the individual to look for indicators such as suicidal thoughts or aggression toward themselves or others. This is usually a important aspect of the assessment and will require the help of a qualified psychotherapist.
If the mental health assessors find that someone poses a risk to themselves or to others, they might determine that the person has to be admitted to hospital. Depending on the circumstances, they could be admitted immediately after their assessment or at a later date.
The assessing professionals will also be able to see how the individual interacts with their 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 person's life. The medical professionals who conduct the evaluation will need to have completed authorization and consent forms from the patient before they can begin the assessment.
If family members of the person are concerned that the professionals who are assessing them might not be giving them the best diagnoses They can always seek an alternative opinion. You can do this by contacting your GP, private therapists or community mental health services.
What should mental health assessments do if I'm not satisfied with my mental health assessment?
If you aren't satisfied with the results of your examination, it's important that you make a statement. Health and social care professionals must always be able to explain the appointment, including the nature of the appointment and how long it's anticipated to last. They should also explain to you why and who will share your personal information, and ask permission before sharing. You can invite a friend, or advocate to your appointment. They can represent your interests and your views. They can be professionals such as lawyers, or even volunteers like mental health workers from charities.
It's crucial to remember that the purpose of a mental health assessment is to assist patients in getting better. If you aren't honest with the person conducting the assessment, they won't be able assess you and treat you appropriately.
The NHS offers free mental health services but it's important to consider that there could be waiting lists for treatment, and the wait could make your symptoms worse. If you're unable to wait for treatment, you may pay privately for an assessment and treatment. This isn't an option for everyone, but it's a possibility if you're able to afford it.
It is also important to keep in your mind that the way in which the NHS operates has changed. In certain parts of England, new Integrated Care Systems were introduced that connect different health care and health organizations. This means that you could be being referred to an entirely different Mental Health Team (MHT) than before.
It's important that you voice your concerns when you are not happy with the treatment or assessment. It can be difficult to voice your concerns but it's important. Your mental health professional should be able to arrange an appointment for a second opinion or refer you to another service. If they aren't consider it, you could consider asking for a complaint to be filed on your behalf by an independent advocacy group, such as Rethink or Mind.
If you are moving, the MHT should transfer your entire care to a new service as soon as is possible. However it's not guaranteed. You should also let your MHT know that are moving, as it can impact the support you receive from them.