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Mental Health Assessment – What to Expect Mental health problems can have an enormous impact on people's lives and their physical well-being. If you are worried about your mental health, it's imperative to act and seek help as quickly as you can. A new law has come into force giving service users a right to access independent advocacy. It also imposes duties on local authorities, Health Boards, and other organizations to provide advocacy services. What is a Mental Health Assessment? Mental health assessments are designed to aid healthcare professionals to understand the issues you're experiencing. They can help identify the best treatment options 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 of your symptoms and their impact on your life. It's important to be honest with your health professional during this phase of the process, since it could have a significant impact on the type of treatment you'll receive. The assessment process can include interviews and psychometric testing. These questionnaires could be either verbal or written, and they might ask questions about your feelings, thoughts, and memory. These questionnaires can also inquire about your family history or previous mental health issues. In the course of the examination the healthcare professional will conduct a physical exam. This will help them determine any medical conditions that may be causing the symptoms you are experiencing, like diabetes or thyroid. In a mental health assessment an expert in healthcare will examine you and ask about any issues you may have at work or at home. They may ask about your past experiences with drugs or alcohol and about any risk factors that could contribute to mental illness like an ancestral history of depression or genetic traits. They may also ask you about any medications you're taking and assess if your symptoms are related to a specific medication. In some cases, the healthcare professional may decide to do a more thorough psychological exam. They will usually use this to gather more information regarding the root of your symptoms. They will examine your previous experiences and relationships, your personality, and interests. They can also conduct tests to see how your brain functions, such as testing your reaction time and your eye movements. These tests are known as neuropsychological testing. A psychiatric assessment is performed by a psychiatrist or psychologist. These doctors are trained in diagnosing and treating mental disorders. They will evaluate you with a mix of psychological and physical methods and will discuss your condition with you in depth. What happens during a mental health assessment? The doctor will ask you about your thoughts, feelings and behaviour. They will also consider any previous diagnoses or treatments that you may have received. They will also look at your family history, your social history and any other information they believe might be helpful in determining the source of your symptoms. It is essential to answer all of the questions honestly. This will give the doctor the best chance of receiving an accurate diagnosis. Some of the questions that you are asked might be difficult or upsetting However, it is vital that you try to talk about your feelings and experiences openly. The evaluation will assist your doctor to determine what could be the cause of your symptoms, and what treatment is best for you. During the examination the doctor will pay attention to your behavior, appearance and how you interact with other people. They will be looking for signs of anxiety, psychosis or depression, and will try to understand what you are feeling. They should also be aware of if you're taking any medication and what kind of work you do. They will also need to be aware of if you've experienced any trauma in the past and whether you know of people who have experienced similar issues. They will also need to know if you have a medical condition that is the cause of your symptoms, such as diabetes or heart disease. The examination should last between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on the reason why you are being seen. The doctor will have written or oral tests to take during the assessment and might 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. This can be done through your local NHS trust. Alternatively, you can ask your psychiatrist or care co-ordinator for assistance and advice on this. What do I get from a mental health test? The professional assessing you will ask you questions about your medical history, family history, as well as any symptoms you've been experiencing. They may also review your current medications as well as previous treatments for psychiatric issues. This is important since it can help doctors identify any physical cause for your symptoms. Your assessment will also involve an examination of your body. It could involve urine and blood tests, as along with an examination of your reflexes and balance. If there's a chance you're suffering from a neurological problem it is possible to request an EEG or CT scan. It's important to be honest during the interview and answer all of the assessing professional's questions. This will enable them to determine the most accurate diagnosis and determine which treatment is best for you. Be aware that getting a precise diagnosis can take a long time. It's common for people to feel anxious and frustrated while they wait for a diagnosis. In some instances, an assessment of mental health may include an in-depth examination of the person to identify indications of suicidal thinking or aggression towards themselves or others. This is usually a important aspect of the assessment and will require the assistance of a qualified therapist. If the mental health assessors discover that a person poses a threat to themselves or to others, they could decide that the individual needs to be hospitalized. Depending on the circumstances, they may be admitted immediately after their assessment or at a later date. The professionals assessing the person will be able observe how the individual interacts with their family and with other people in their lives. They will inquire about the main sources of stress, as well as any traumatizing experiences the person has experienced. Before the assessment can start, the doctor who will conduct it must have authorization and consent forms signed by the patient. If family members of the person are concerned that the assessing professionals might not be giving them the best diagnoses They can always get a second opinion. This can be done by their GP or private therapists, or community mental health services. What can I do when I am not satisfied with my mental health assessment report? If you're not happy with the results of your evaluation, it's important that you say something. Health and social care professionals must always explain what will happen during an appointment and the length of time it will take. They should also inform you who they'll be sharing information with, and why and get your consent prior to sharing information. You can invite a friend, or advocate to your assessment. They can represent your interests and opinions. They could be professionals like lawyers, or even volunteers like mental health charity workers. It is important to keep in mind that the purpose of a mental health assessment is to assist people in getting better. If you're unable to communicate with the person conducting the assessment, it's not likely that they'll be able to evaluate and treat you effectively. NHS provides free mental health services however, you must be aware that there could be waiting lists and the wait could make your symptoms worse. If you're unable to wait for treatment, you can pay privately for an assessment and treatment. This is not an option for everyone, but should you be able to afford it, it's worth looking into. It's important to be aware that the NHS has changed. In certain parts of England the new Integrated Care Systems were introduced which connect various health and health-related organizations. how to get a mental health assessment uk Iam Psychiatry means that you may be directed to an alternative Mental Health Team (MHT) than you were before. If you feel that the treatment or assessment you're receiving doesn't work for you, it's important to say so. This can be challenging but it's important that you be vocal. Your mental health professional will be able arrange for an additional opinion or recommend you to an alternative service. If they don't consider it, you could consider asking for a complaint to be filed on your behalf by an independent advocacy organisation, such as Rethink or Mind. If you are moving, the MHT should transfer your entire care to a new service as quickly as possible. However, this is not guaranteed. You should also let your MHT know that you are moving, as this could affect the level of support you receive from them.