Mental Health Assessment - What to Expect
Mental health issues can have a an impact on people's lives as well as their physical well-being. If you're worried about your mental wellbeing it's essential to take action and seek help as soon as possible.
A new law is in force that grants clients the right to have 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 made by healthcare professionals to help them understand your problems. They can assist in finding the most effective treatment for you, regardless of whether it is medication or therapy. They can also be used to assess the effectiveness of your current treatment and monitor changes over time.
A mental health assessment begins with a discussion regarding your symptoms and how they're affecting your life. It's essential to be open and honest during this phase. This can affect the treatment you receive.
The assessment process may involve several different methods, such as interviews and psychometric tests. These questionnaires could be either verbal or written, and might ask you questions about your feelings, thoughts and memories. These questionnaires can also inquire about your family history and previous mental health problems. As part of the evaluation the healthcare professional will conduct a physical exam. This will help them rule out any medical conditions that may be contributing to your symptoms, like diabetes or thyroid problems.
During the mental health evaluation, the health professional will monitor your behavior and ask you about any problems at home or at work. They may ask about your history with alcohol or drugs, and about any risk factors that could cause mental illness such as the family history of depression or genetic characteristics. They may also ask you about any medications you are taking and check if your symptoms are related to a specific medication.
In certain situations, a medical professional may opt to conduct an additional psychological exam. They will usually utilize this procedure to gather more information about the cause of your symptoms, and will look at your past experiences and relationships, your personality, and interests. They may also perform tests to see the way your brain works including measuring reaction times and examining your eye movements. These tests are known as neuropsychological tests.
A psychiatric assessment can be conducted by a psychologist or psychiatrist. These are doctors with 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 mental health assessment?
The doctor will inquire about your thoughts and feelings, as well as your behavior. They will also take into consideration any previous diagnoses or treatments you've had. They will also look at your family history, your social history, and any other information they feel might be helpful in determining the root of your symptoms. Answer all questions honestly. This will give the doctor the best chance of receiving an accurate diagnosis.
Some of the questions you are asked might be triggering or sensitive However, it is vital that you try to talk about your feelings and experiences with confidence. This is because the evaluation will assist your doctor in figuring out what might be causing your symptoms and what kind of treatment is most suitable for you.
During the interview your doctor will also take note of how you are behaving as well as your appearance and manner in which you interact with other people. They will be looking for signs of depression, anxiety or psychosis and will try to understand why you're experiencing the way you are.
They will also need to be aware of if you're taking any medication and what sort of work you do. They should also know about any previous traumas you've been through and will want to know if have any friends or family who have had similar experiences. They should be aware of whether you suffer from heart disease or diabetes which could be responsible for the symptoms.
The assessment should last between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on the reason why you are being examined. The doctor might have to complete written or verbal assessments as well as perform a physical exam during the exam.
If you are not happy with the outcome of your mental health assessment, you have the right to request an additional opinion. Your local NHS trust has a procedure for this and can arrange it for you. You can also ask your psychiatrist or care co-ordinator for advice and assistance on this.
What should I expect during an assessment for mental health?
The person who is assessing you will ask you questions about your medical history, family history and any symptoms you've experienced. They will also review previous treatment for psychiatric issues and current medications. This is essential as it assists professionals in ruling out physical causes of your symptoms.
Your assessment will include physical examination. This can include blood and urine tests as in addition to an examination of your reflexes and balance. If there's a chance you have a neurological issue you may also be referred to 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 enable them to identify the problem and determine what treatment is the best for you. But, keep in mind that it can take some time to get an accurate diagnosis. It's normal for individuals to experience some anxiety and frustration while waiting for an answer.
In certain situations an assessment of mental health could include an exhaustive examination of the person to identify indicators such as suicidal thoughts or aggression towards others or themselves. This is an essential part of the assessment, and you'll require assistance from a qualified professional.
If mental health assessors determine that someone is a risk to themselves or others, they might decide that the person has to be admitted to hospital. Based on the circumstances the person could be admitted right away following their assessment or later.
The professionals will also be able observe how an individual interacts with family members and with other people. They'll ask questions about the main sources of stress as well as any traumatic events that have occurred in the life of the person. The doctors who carry out the assessment will need to have signed authorization and consent forms from the person before they can begin the assessment.
You can always get a second opinion if the family members of the individual are concerned that the professional who are evaluating them may not be giving the best diagnosis. This can be done through your doctor or private therapists as well as community mental health services.
What should I do if I'm not satisfied with my mental health assessment?
If you aren't satisfied with the results of your evaluation, it's important that you say something. Health and social care professionals should always be able to explain what happens during an appointment and the length of time it will take. mental health capacity assessment should also tell you who they'll be sharing information with and for what reason, and ask for your consent prior to sharing information. You may bring an advocate or a friend to your appointment. They could represent your interests and your opinions. They could be professionals, such as lawyers or volunteers like mental health charity workers.
Some people might find the experience of having an assessment of their mental health challenging or stressful, but it's important to remember that the aim is to help you get better. If you aren't honest with the professional who is conducting the assessment they won't be able evaluate you and treat you appropriately.
The NHS offers free mental health services, but it's important to consider that there might be waiting lists for treatment and this could make your symptoms worse. If you're unable to wait, you could pay for an assessment and treatment privately. This isn't a viable option for everyone, but it's an possibility if you can afford it.
It's also worth bearing in your mind that the way in which the NHS operates has changed. In certain parts of England the new Integrated Care Systems were introduced which connect various health care and health organizations. You could be referred to an entirely different Mental Health Team than before.
It is crucial to be vocal when you are not happy with the way of treatment or assessment. It isn't easy to speak up, but it is important. Your mental health professional should be able to arrange an appointment for a second opinion or refer you to another service. If they don't consider it, you could consider asking for a complaint to be made on your behalf by an independent advocacy organization like Rethink or Mind.
If you move your home, the MHT will transfer all your services to a new one as soon as is possible. However it's not guaranteed. It's also important to let your MHT know if you are moving home and this could affect the amount of support you receive from them.