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Mental Health Assessment – What to Expect Mental health issues can have a huge impact on people's mental and physical wellbeing. If you're concerned about your mental health, it is crucial to act and seek assistance as soon as possible. A new law is in force, which grants the users of services the right to independent advocacy. It also requires local authorities and Health Boards to provide advocacy services. What is a Mental Health Assessment? Mental health assessments are designed to help medical professionals understand the challenges you are experiencing. They can help determine the best treatment options for you, regardless of whether that is therapy or medication. They can also be used to track your treatment over time and determine its effectiveness. A mental health assessment starts with a discussion about your symptoms and how they impact your life. It's important to be honest with the healthcare professional during this part of the process because it could have a huge impact on the type of treatment you receive. The assessment process can include a variety of different methods, including interviews and psychometric tests. These questionnaires can be written or verbal, and can focus on questions about how you feel, your thoughts, and your memory. They could also ask questions about things like your family history and prior mental health issues. In addition to these questionnaires the healthcare professional might require physical examination as part of the evaluation. This will help them determine any medical conditions which may be contributing to the symptoms you are experiencing, like thyroid or diabetes. During the mental health evaluation, the healthcare professional will observe your behavior and ask you about any problems at home or at work. They may inquire about your previous experiences with drugs or alcohol and about any risk factors that could lead to mental illness such as an ancestral history of depression or genetic traits. They might also inquire about any medication you're taking and determine whether your symptoms are connected to a specific medication. In certain instances, a medical professional may decide to perform a more detailed psychological examination. This is typically performed to learn more about the underlying cause of the symptoms as well as look at your personality, your past experiences, and hobbies. They may also conduct tests to determine how your brain is working like testing your reaction times and observing your eye movements. These tests are known as neuropsychological tests. A psychiatrist or psychologist can conduct a psychiatric examination. They are doctors who have specialization in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. They will examine you with a combination of physical and psychological methods and discuss your diagnosis in depth. What happens during an assessment of mental health? The doctor will inquire about your thoughts, feelings and behavior. They will also take into account any previous diagnoses and 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 every question honestly. This will give your doctor the best chance to provide an accurate diagnosis. Some of the questions you are asked may be sensitive or upsetting It is important that you talk about your feelings and experiences with confidence. The test will assist your doctor to determine what could be the cause of your symptoms, and what treatment is best for you. During the interview your doctor will also take note of the way you behave, your appearance and the way you interact with other people. They will look for signs of psychosis, anxiety, or depression and will try to understand what you feel. They will also need to be aware of whether you are taking any medication and what kind of work you are doing. They should also find out if you've had any trauma in the past and if you know of anyone who has experienced similar issues. They will also need to be aware of any medical condition that could be the cause of your symptoms, like diabetes or heart disease. The assessment could last between 30 minutes and 90 minutes, depending the reason you are examined. The doctor may need to complete written or verbal assessments and perform an examination during the exam. If you're not satisfied with the results of your mental health assessment, you have the right to seek an opinion from a second source. Your local NHS trust will have a system for this and will be able to arrange it for you. You can also contact your psychiatrist or care coordinator for advice and help. What should I expect during an assessment of my mental health? The assessing professional will inquire about your medical background, family history, and any issues you've experienced. They might also look over your current medications and past psychiatric treatments. This review is important because it will allow professionals to determine if there are any physical causes for your symptoms. The test will also include an examination of your body. This could include urine and blood tests, as in addition to an assessment of your balance and reflexes. If there's a chance you're suffering from a neurological problem it is possible to request an EEG or CT scan. It is crucial to be honest and answer all the questions asked by the professional who is evaluating you. This will help them determine the most accurate diagnosis and determine the treatment that is most appropriate for you. But, keep in mind that it can take some time to get an accurate diagnosis. It's normal for patients to feel a bit anxious and frustration while waiting for an answer. In independent mental health assessment , a full mental health evaluation will include examining an individual for any signs of suicidal behaviour or violence towards them or others. This is often a very serious aspect of the evaluation and will require the assistance of a qualified therapist. If mental health assessors decide that someone poses a threat to themselves or others, they could decide that this person needs to be admitted to hospital. Based on the circumstances, they may be admitted immediately after their evaluation or at a later date. The professionals will also be able observe how a person interacts with family members and with other people. They will inquire about the most important causes of stress, as well as any traumatizing experiences the person has experienced. Before the assessment can begin the physician who will conduct it must have the consent and authorization forms signed by the individual. You can always get a second opinion if the family members of the person are concerned that the professional who are evaluating them may not be giving the best diagnosis. This can be done by their physician or private therapists, or community mental health services. What can I do if I'm unhappy with my mental health assessment? If you're not happy with the results of your examination, it's important that you make a statement. Health and social care professionals should always be able to explain what happens during an appointment and how long it will last. They should also tell you who they'll be sharing information with and why, and ask for your permission before doing so. You can bring an advocate, or a friend to your assessment. They could represent your interests and views. They could be volunteers like mental health workers from charities or they could be professionals, like lawyers. Some people may find the experience of having an assessment of their mental health challenging or even painful however, it's important to remember that the goal is to help you recover. If you can't be honest with the professional who is conducting the assessment they won't be able assess your needs and properly treat you. NHS offers free mental health care However, you should be aware that there could be waiting lists, and waiting can make your symptoms worse. If you're not able to wait, you can pay to have an assessment and treatment done privately. This isn't an option for everyone, but should you be able to pay for it, it's worth taking into consideration. It's important to be aware that the NHS has changed. New Integrated Care Systems have been rolled out in parts of England and connect various health and care organizations. You could be referred by an entirely different Mental Health Team than before. It's crucial to speak up in the event that you don't agree with the treatment or assessment. It can be difficult, but it's important that you make a statement. Your mental health professional should be able to arrange an additional opinion or refer you to a different service. If they don't then it could be worth asking for a complaint to be filed on your behalf by an independent advocacy group such as Rethink or Mind. If you move your home, the MHT should transfer your entire care to a new service as soon as is possible. However this isn't always the case. It's also a good idea to let your MHT know that you are moving home in order to determine how much support you get from them.