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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 well-being. If you're concerned about your mental health it's essential to take action and seek help as soon as you can. A new law is now in force, which grants the users of services the right to have independent advocacy. The law also imposes obligations 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 problems. They can be used for finding the best treatment option for you, whether it is therapy or medication. They can also be used to assess the effectiveness of your current treatment and track changes over time. A mental health assessment starts with a discussion regarding your symptoms and how they impact your life. It's important to be honest in this phase of the process. This can be a major influence on the treatment you receive. The assessment process could consist of psychometric tests or interviews. These questionnaires can be verbal or written and may focus on questions about how you feel, your thoughts, and your memory. They may also include questions about things like your family history, and any previous mental health issues. As part of the evaluation the healthcare professional will perform a physical examination. This can help them identify any medical issues that could be contributing to the symptoms you are suffering from, for example, thyroid or diabetes. In a mental health assessment, a healthcare professional will examine you and ask about any problems that you might be experiencing at home or at work. They might also inquire about your past experiences with alcohol or drugs and any risk factors for mental illness, for instance, the family history of depression or genetic traits. They may also inquire about any medication you're taking and will check whether your symptoms are related to particular medications. In some cases, a medical professional may choose to conduct a more detailed psychological examination. This is usually done to find out more about the underlying cause of the symptoms as well as look at your personality, past experiences, and interests. They may also perform tests to see how your brain is functioning like measuring your reaction times and observing your eye movements. These tests are known as neuropsychological testing. A psychiatric evaluation can be conducted by a psychiatrist or psychologist. These are doctors with specialist training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. They will examine you with a combination of psychological and physical methods and discuss your diagnosis in detail. What happens during a psychological evaluation? The doctor will ask you about your thoughts, feelings, and behavior. They will also look at any previous diagnoses or treatments you might have had. They will also consider your family history and social history and any other information that might help them work out what is causing your symptoms. It is essential to answer all questions honestly. This will give your doctor the best chance to make an accurate diagnosis. It is crucial to be honest and forthcoming when answering the questions. The evaluation will help your physician determine what is causing your symptoms, and the best treatment for you. During the examination, your doctor will also pay attention to how you are behaving as well as your appearance and way you interact with other people. They will look for indications of psychosis, anxiety or depression. They will also try to figure out what you feel. They should also be aware of whether you are taking any medication and what sort of work you are doing. They will also need to find out if you've had any kind of trauma in the past and if you know of anyone who has experienced similar problems. They will also need to know if you have a medical condition that could be responsible for your symptoms, such as diabetes or heart disease. The assessment could last between 30 minutes and 90 minutes, depending the reason you are seen. The doctor might have to conduct written or verbal assessments as well as an examination during the exam. If you're not satisfied with the outcome of your mental health assessment, you have the right to seek an additional opinion. You can arrange this through your local NHS trust. You can also ask your doctor or care coordinator for assistance and advice on this. What do I get from a mental health assessment? The professional assessing you will inquire about your medical history, family history, and any issues you've experienced. They will also review previous treatment for psychiatric issues and current medications. This is important as it will allow professionals to rule out any physical reasons for your symptoms. Your evaluation will consist of a physical examination. This can include urine and blood tests as in addition to an assessment of your reflexes and balance. If they suspect that you have a neurological issue, they might also order an EEG scan or CT scan. It is essential to be truthful and answer all questions asked by the professional who is evaluating you. This will allow them to form an accurate diagnosis and identify the most effective treatment option for you. Be aware that getting a precise diagnosis may take time. It's normal for people to feel a bit anxious and frustration while waiting for an answer. In some instances an extensive mental health evaluation will include examining an individual for any indications of suicidal behavior or violence toward themselves or other people. This is usually a serious part of the assessment and will require the help of a qualified therapist. If the mental health assessors determine that someone poses a risk to themselves or to others, they could decide that the person needs to be hospitalized. Depending on Iam Psychiatry could be admitted immediately after the assessment or at some 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 most significant sources of stress and about any traumatizing events that have been a part of the individual's life. The doctors who perform the assessment will need to have signed consent and authorization forms from the individual before they can begin the assessment. If the individual's family members are concerned that the professionals who are assessing them may not be providing the best diagnoses they are able to seek an additional opinion. This can be done through your doctor, private therapists or community mental health services. What should I do if I'm not happy with my mental health assessment? It's important to speak up if you are not satisfied 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 anticipated to last. They should also inform you who they'll be sharing information with and why and seek your permission before doing so. You may bring an advocate, or a friend to your assessment. They could represent your interests and your views. They can be professionals, such as lawyers or volunteers like mental health workers from charities. Some people may find the experience of having a mental health assessment difficult or stressful however, it's important to remember that the purpose is to help you get better. If you're not able communicate with the person conducting the assessment, it's not likely that they'll be able and treat you properly. NHS offers free mental health treatment However, you should be aware that there might be waiting lists and that waiting could make your symptoms worse. If you feel you're unable to wait, you could pay for an assessment and treatment done privately. This isn't a viable option for everyone, but it's a possibility if you can afford it. It's also worth keeping in mind that the manner in which the NHS operates has changed. New Integrated Care Systems have been rolled out in parts of England and they bring together various health and care organizations. This means that you may be referred to a different Mental Health Team (MHT) than you were before. If you believe that the treatment or assessment you're receiving doesn't work for you, it's vital to say so. This can be challenging but it's essential to speak up. Your mental health professional will be able to provide a second opinion or refer you to another service. If they aren't then you may want to seek out an advocacy group that is independent like Rethink or Mind to submit a complaint on your behalf. The MHT will transfer your care to the new service in the shortest time possible in the event of a move, but it's not guaranteed. It's also a good idea to let your MHT know that you are moving home in order to determine the level of support you receive from them.