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Mental Health Assessment – What to Expect Mental health problems can have a significant impact on people's lives as well as their physical health. If you're concerned about your mental wellbeing, it's important to act and seek help as quickly as you can. A new law is in force that gives service users the right to have independent advocacy. It also places duties on local authorities and Health Boards to provide advocacy. What is an assessment of mental health? Mental health assessments are made for healthcare professionals to understand your issues. They can be used to assist in to determine the best treatment option for you, whether it is therapy or medication. They can also be used to keep track of your treatment over time and assess its effectiveness. A mental health assessment starts with a discussion regarding your symptoms and how they impact your life. It's important to be honest with the medical professional during this stage of the process, as it can have a big influence on the kind of treatment you'll receive. The assessment process may include psychometric tests and interviews. These questionnaires can be verbal or written and may concentrate on questions regarding how you feel about your thoughts, how you feel, and your memory. These questionnaires could also inquire about your family history and previous mental health problems. In addition to these questionnaires medical professional may require a physical exam as part of the examination. This can help them determine any medical issues that could be causing your symptoms, such as diabetes or thyroid problems. In a mental health assessment , a healthcare professional will observe you and ask about any problems that you may have at work or at home. They might also inquire about your previous experiences with drugs or alcohol and any risk factors for mental illness, for instance, a family history of depression or genetic traits. They might also ask about any medication you're taking and will check if any of your symptoms are related to a specific medication. In some cases, the medical professional might decide to do a more deep psychological examination. This is usually performed to learn more about the cause of the symptoms as well as look at your personality, your past experiences and interests. They may also conduct tests to assess how your brain is working by testing your reaction times and observing your eye movements. These tests are known as neuropsychological tests. A psychiatrist or psychologist can perform a psychiatric evaluation. They are doctors who have expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. They will assess you with a mix of psychological and physical methods and will discuss the diagnosis with you in detail. What happens during a psychological assessment? The doctor will ask you about your thoughts, feelings, and behavior. They will also consider any previous diagnoses or treatments that you've received. They will also look at your family history, social history as well as any other information they believe may be helpful in determining the root of your symptoms. Answer all questions truthfully. This will give the doctor the best chance of getting an accurate diagnosis. It is important to be honest and open when answering the questions. This is because the examination will help your doctor figure out what might be causing your symptoms and determine what type of treatment would be the most suitable for you. During the interview your doctor will also take note of how you are behaving in your appearance, how you dress and the manner in which you interact with other people. They will look for any signs of anxiety, depression or psychosis. They will look into the reasons you are feeling the way that you are. They will also want to be aware of the type of work you do and if you are taking any medications. They should be aware about any previous traumas you have experienced and will be interested in knowing if you have any family members or friends who have had similar experiences. They will also need to know if you suffer from a medical condition that is causing the symptoms, such as heart disease or diabetes. The examination could last between 30 and 90 minutes based on why you are being examined. 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 have the right to seek an additional opinion if you are not satisfied with the results of your mental health assessment. Your local NHS trust will have a procedure to handle this and will be able to arrange for it. Alternately, you can contact your doctor or care coordinator for assistance and advice on this. What do I get from a mental health evaluation? The person who is assessing you will ask you questions about your medical history, your family history as well as any symptoms you've experienced. They will also review your current medications and past psychiatric treatments. This review is important because it can help doctors identify any physical cause for your symptoms. Your evaluation will consist of a physical examination. It could involve urine and blood tests, and a review of your reflexes. If you suspect that you have a neurological issue it is possible to request an EEG or CT scan. It is essential to be truthful and answer all questions posed by the professional conducting an assessment of you. This will allow them to make an accurate diagnosis and determine what treatment is the best for you. Remember that getting an accurate diagnosis can take time. It's normal for individuals to experience anxiety and frustration as they wait for an answer. In some cases an extensive mental health assessment will involve checking an individual for signs of suicidal behavior or violence towards themselves or other people. This is an essential aspect of the assessment and you'll need the help of a trained professional. If the mental health assessors discover that a person poses a threat to themselves or others, they may decide that the person needs to be hospitalized. Based on their situation they could be admitted immediately following their assessment or later. 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 biggest sources of stress, as well as any traumatic events that have occurred in the life of the person. The doctors who carry out the evaluation will need to have completed authorization and consent forms from the person before the evaluation can begin. You can always seek an alternative opinion if family members of the individual are concerned that the professionals assessing them might not give the best diagnosis. This can be done by their doctor or private therapists. community mental health services. What can I do when I am not satisfied with my mental health assessment report? If you aren't satisfied with the results of your evaluation It's essential to say something. Health and social care professionals must be able to explain the appointment, including what will take place and how long expected to last. They should also explain to you who they will 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 assessment. They could represent your interests and opinions. They can be volunteers, like mental health workers from charities or they can be professionals, such as lawyers. Some people may feel the process of having an assessment of their mental health challenging or distressing It's crucial to remember that the aim is to help you get better. If you're not able to be open with the person carrying out the assessment, it's not likely that they'll be able and treat you properly. NHS offers free mental health services however, you must be aware that there may be waiting lists and waiting can cause your symptoms to get worse. If you are unable to wait for treatment, you can pay privately to receive an assessment and treatment. This isn't a viable option for everyone, but it's an possibility if you're able to afford it. It is also important to keep in mind that the manner in which the NHS operates has changed. In certain parts of England there are new Integrated Care Systems were introduced that connect different health care and health organizations. You could be referred by an entirely different Mental Health Team than before. If you feel that the treatment or evaluation you're receiving isn't working for you, it's vital to voice your concerns. This can be challenging but it's crucial to be vocal. Your mental health professional should be able to arrange an additional opinion or refer you to a different service. If they do not suggest it, you could ask an independent advocacy group, such as Rethink or Mind, to make a complaint on your behalf. The MHT should transfer your services to the new one as soon as is possible in the event of a move, but this isn't guaranteed. It's also a good idea to let your MHT know when you're moving to a new home and this could affect the level of support you receive from them.