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Mental Health Assessment – What to Expect Mental health issues can have a significant impact on people's lives and their physical health. If you are concerned about your mental health, it is important to take action and seek assistance as soon as possible. A new law has entered force, granting service users 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 designed to assist healthcare professionals to understand the issues you're facing. They can be used for finding the most effective treatment for you, whether that is medication or therapy. They can also be used to track your treatment over time and determine its effectiveness. A mental health assessment begins with a discussion of your symptoms and the impact they have on your life. It's essential to be open and honest during this phase. This can have a significant impact on the treatment you receive. The assessment process can include various methods, such as interviews and psychometric tests. These questionnaires can be written or verbal and could be focused on how you feel about your thoughts, how you feel, and your memory. These questionnaires can also inquire about your family history and previous mental health problems. In addition to these questionnaires, the healthcare professional may require physical examination as part of the assessment. This can help them rule any medical conditions which may be causing the symptoms you are experiencing, such as diabetes or thyroid. In a mental health assessment A healthcare professional will be watching you and asking about any problems that you might face at home or at work. They may ask about your past experiences with alcohol or drugs, and about any risk factors that could contribute to mental illness such as an ancestral history of depression or genetic characteristics. They could also inquire about any medications you're taking and assess whether your symptoms are connected to a specific medication. In certain situations, a healthcare professional will decide to perform an additional psychological exam. This is usually conducted to find out more about the underlying cause of the symptoms as well as examine your personality, past experiences, and interests. They may also conduct tests to determine how your brain is functioning by testing your reaction times and observing your eye movements. These tests are referred to as neuropsychological tests. A psychiatric assessment can be conducted by a psychologist or psychiatrist. They are skilled in diagnosing and treating mental disorders. They will assess 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 inquire about your thoughts and feelings, and also your behavior. They will also take into consideration any prior diagnoses or treatments you may have received. They will also consider your family history, social history, and any other information they think might be helpful in determining the cause of your symptoms. Answer all questions honestly. This will give the doctor the best chance of getting an accurate diagnosis. It is important to be honest and transparent when answering the questions. This is because the assessment will assist your doctor in figuring out what is causing your symptoms and what kind of treatment would be the most suitable for you. During the appointment your doctor will be paying attention to your behavior, appearance and how you interact with other people. They will look for indications of psychosis, anxiety or depression, and will try to understand what you are feeling. They'll also want to be aware of the type of work you do and if you are taking any medication. They should be aware about any past trauma that you've experienced and will be interested in knowing if you have any family members or friends who have experienced similar problems. They will want to be aware of whether you suffer from heart disease or diabetes, which could be the cause of the symptoms. The test can last between 30 minutes and 90 minutes depending the reason you are examined. The doctor will require written or verbal tests to complete during the assessment and might perform a physical exam as well. If you aren't satisfied with the results of your mental health assessment you are entitled to seek a second opinion. You can request this through your local NHS trust. You can also contact your psychiatrist or care coordinator for advice and support. What should I expect during an assessment for mental health? The doctor who examines you will ask questions about your medical history, your family history and any symptoms you've experienced. They may also review your current medications and previous treatment for psychiatric disorders. This is important since it will help professionals determine if there are any physical causes for your symptoms. Your assessment will include a physical examination. This could include blood and urine tests as well as a review 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 truthful during the interview and be able to answer all the questions of the professional who is assessing. This will enable them to identify the problem and determine which treatment is the best for you. Be aware that it can take some time to get an accurate diagnosis. It's normal for individuals to feel a bit anxious and frustration while waiting for an answer. In some cases an extensive mental health assessment may involve checking an individual for signs of suicidal behaviour or violence towards themselves or others. This is often a serious aspect of the evaluation and requires the assistance of a trained therapist. If the mental health assessors determine that a person poses a threat to themselves or others, they could decide that the person needs to be hospitalized. Based on their situation the person could be admitted immediately following their evaluation or after. The professionals assessing the person will be able to observe how the individual interacts with their family and with other people in their life. They will ask about the main sources of stress, and any traumatic experiences that the person has been through. The doctors who perform the assessment will need to have completed authorization and consent forms from the person prior to the evaluation being conducted. If family members of the person are worried that the professionals assessing them may not be providing the most accurate diagnosis, they can always request a second opinion. This can be done by their doctor, private therapists, or community mental health services. What can I do if I'm unhappy with my mental health assessment? It is crucial to tell someone when you aren't satisfied with the results of an assessment. Health and social care professionals must always provide a clear explanation of what will happen during an appointment and how long it will last. They should also tell you who they'll be sharing information with, and why and seek your consent prior to sharing information. You can bring a person who is a friend or advocate with you to your appointment and they will be able to represent your interests and views. They can be volunteers, like mental health professionals, or they could be professionals, such as lawyers. It is important to keep in mind that the aim of a mental health assessment is to help people get better. If you can't be honest with the person conducting the assessment they won't be able to evaluate you and treat you appropriately. NHS provides free mental health services, but you should be aware that there may be waiting lists and that waiting can cause your symptoms to worsen. If you're not able to wait for treatment, you may pay privately to receive an assessment and treatment. This isn't an option for everyone, but it's an possibility if you can afford it. It's important to remember that the NHS has changed. New Integrated Care Systems have been rolled out in parts of England and they combine different health and care organisations. assessment in mental health might be referred to an alternative Mental Health Team (MHT) than you were before. If you feel that the treatment or evaluation you're receiving isn't working for you, it's vital to say so. This can be challenging but it's crucial to make a statement. Your mental health professional will be able get a second opinion, or recommend you to another service. If they don't then you may want to seek out an advocacy group that is independent like Rethink, or Mind, to make an appeal on your behalf. The MHT should transfer your care to the new provider as soon as is possible in the event of a move, but it's not guaranteed. It's also worth letting your MHT know that you're moving house and this could affect how much support you get from them.