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Mental Health Assessment – What to Expect Mental health issues can have a huge impact on a person's mental and physical health. If you are concerned about your mental health, it is important to take action and seek assistance as soon as you can. A new law has come into force, granting service users a right to seek independent advocacy. It also requires local authorities and Health Boards to offer advocacy services. What is a Mental Health Assessment? Mental health assessments are made for healthcare professionals to understand your problems. They can be used to determine the most effective treatment options for you, whether it is medication or therapy. They can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of your current treatment and track changes over time. A mental health evaluation begins with a discussion of your symptoms and their impact on your daily life. It's important to be honest during this stage of the process. This can be a major influence on the treatment you receive. The assessment process can include a variety of different methods, such as interviews and psychometric tests. These questionnaires can be written or verbal, and can focus on questions about how you feel as well as your thoughts and your memory. These questionnaires could also inquire about your family history and previous mental health problems. As part of the evaluation, the healthcare professional will also conduct a physical exam. This can help them identify any medical conditions that may be causing the symptoms you're experiencing, like thyroid or diabetes. During the mental health assessment, the healthcare professional will observe your behavior and ask you about any issues you may have at home or at work. They might inquire about your past experiences of using drugs or alcohol, and about any risk factors that could contribute to mental illness like the family history of depression or genetic traits. They might also inquire about any medication you're taking and assess if your symptoms are related to specific medications. In certain situations, a healthcare professional may decide to conduct a more thorough psychological exam. This is typically done to find out more about the cause of symptoms and to examine your personality, your past experiences and interests. They may also perform tests to see the way your brain works by testing your reaction time and your eye movements. These tests are called neuropsychological tests. Full Write-up or psychiatrist can perform a psychiatric evaluation. These professionals are trained in diagnosing and treating mental disorders. They will assess you with a mix of physical and psychological methods and will discuss your diagnosis with you in depth. What happens during a mental health assessment? The doctor will ask you about your thoughts, feelings and behavior. They will also look at any prior diagnoses or treatments you might have had. They will also consider your family and social history, as well as any other information that may aid them in determining the cause of your symptoms. Answer all questions truthfully. This will give the doctor the best chance of getting an accurate diagnosis. Some of the questions that you are asked may be triggering or sensitive However, it is vital that you be honest about your feelings and experiences with confidence. This is because the evaluation will help your doctor figure out what might be causing your symptoms and which type of treatment is most suitable for you. During the visit, your doctor will also take note of the way you behave as well as your appearance and manner in which you interact with others. They will look for signs of psychosis, anxiety or depression. They will also attempt to determine the emotions you are experiencing. They will also want to be aware of the type of work you perform and if you are taking any medication. They will need to know about any past trauma that you have experienced and will want to know if you have any friends or family who have experienced similar issues. They will need to be aware of whether you suffer from diabetes or heart disease, which could be responsible for the symptoms. The assessment will last between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on the reason why you are being examined. The doctor will have written or oral tests to complete during the assessment and might perform a physical exam as well. You have the right to request a second opinion if you're not satisfied with the results of your mental health assessment. The local NHS trust will have a system to handle this and can arrange for it. You can also consult your doctor or care coordinator for advice and assistance. What can I expect from a mental health evaluation? The doctor who examines you will ask questions about your medical history, your family history as well as any symptoms that you have been experiencing. They might also review your past treatments for psychiatric disorders and the current medications. This is important as it will allow professionals to rule out any physical reasons for your symptoms. The test will also include an examination of your body. This may include urine and blood tests, and also a review of your reflexes. If they suspect that you have a neurological issue it is possible to request an EEG scan or CT scan. It is important to be honest and answer all questions asked by the professional conducting an assessment of you. This will help them form an accurate diagnosis and decide the most effective treatment option for you. Remember that getting an accurate diagnosis can take time. It's common for people to feel anxious and frustrated while waiting for a diagnose. In certain situations the full mental health assessment will involve the person being examined for indications of suicidal behavior or violence toward themselves or others. This is an essential part of the assessment, and you'll require the assistance of a trained professional. 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 admitted to hospital. Based on the circumstances, they could be admitted immediately after their evaluation or at a later date. The assessing professionals will also be able to observe how the person interacts with family and with other people in their lives. They will ask about the most important causes of stress and any traumatic experiences that the person has experienced. Before the assessment can begin the physician who will conduct it must have authorization and consent forms signed by the person. You can always seek an additional opinion if family members of the person are concerned that the experts conducting the assessment might not be giving the best diagnosis. You can do this by contacting your doctor or private therapists, or through community mental health services. What can I do if I'm unhappy with my mental health assessment? It's important to speak up when you aren't satisfied with the outcome of an assessment. Health and social care professionals must always explain the appointment, indicating what will take place and how long anticipated to last. They should also explain to you who they will be sharing information with, and why, and ask for your permission prior to sharing any information. You can bring a companion or an advocate to your appointment and they could represent your opinions and interests. They can be professionals like lawyers, or even volunteers like mental health workers from charities. It's crucial to remember that the goal of a mental health assessment is to assist patients in getting better. If you're not able to be open with the professional who's conducting the assessment, it's unlikely that they'll be able and treat you properly. The NHS offers free mental health services, but it's worth considering that there may be waiting lists for treatment and the wait can make your symptoms worse. If you're unable to wait, you can pay for an assessment and treatment done privately. This isn't an option for everyone, but it's a possibility if you're able to afford it. It's important to remember that the NHS has changed. In some parts of England there are new Integrated Care Systems were introduced that connect different health and health-related organizations. This means that you may be referred to a different Mental Health Team (MHT) than you were before. It's important that you speak up when you are not happy with the treatment or the assessment. It isn't easy to voice your concerns, but it is important. Your mental health professional will be able to request a second opinion, or recommend you to an alternative service. If they don't then you may want to contact an independent advocacy group, such as Rethink or Mind to submit a complaint on your behalf. If you move your home, the MHT should transfer all of your care to a new service as soon as is possible. However this isn't always the case. It is important to inform your MHT know you are moving, as it can affect the level of assistance you receive from them.