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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 wellbeing. If you are concerned about your mental health, it's important to take action and seek help as soon as you can. A new law has entered force giving customers of services the right to seek 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 made by healthcare professionals to help them understand your problems. They can help determine the best treatment options for you, whether it is medication or therapy. They can be used to track your treatment over time and assess its effectiveness. A mental health assessment starts with a discussion about your symptoms and their impact on your daily life. It is crucial to be honest with your medical professional during this stage of the process because it could have a significant influence on the kind of treatment you get. The assessment process may involve several different methods, including interviews and psychometric tests. These questionnaires can be verbal or written and may be focused on how you feel as well as your thoughts and your memory. They could also ask questions about your family history, and any previous mental health issues. In addition to these questionnaires medical professional may decide to conduct an examination of your body as part of the evaluation. This will aid in determining any medical issues that could be causing your symptoms, such as thyroid issues or diabetes. In a mental health assessment an expert in healthcare will be watching you and asking about any problems that you might face at work or at home. They may also ask about your previous experiences with alcohol or drugs, and any risk factors for mental illness, such as the family history of depression or genetic characteristics. They might also ask about any medication you're taking and will check whether your symptoms are linked to specific medications. In some cases medical professionals may decide to perform an additional psychological exam. This is typically done to find out more about the cause of the symptoms as well as examine your personality, past experiences, and hobbies. They might also conduct tests to see how your brain functions by testing your reaction time and your eye movements. These tests are known as neuropsychological tests. A psychiatric assessment can be conducted by a psychiatrist or psychologist. These are doctors with specialization in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. They will examine you using a combination of physical and psychological methods and will discuss the diagnosis with you in detail. What happens during a psychological test? Iam Psychiatry will inquire about your thoughts, feelings and behavior. They will also consider any previous diagnoses or treatments that you have had. They will also review your family history and social history as well as any other information that may help them work out what is causing your symptoms. Answer all questions honestly. This will give your doctor the best chance to make an accurate diagnosis. Some of the questions you are asked could be sensitive or upsetting, but it is essential to try to discuss your feelings and experiences with confidence. The assessment will allow your doctor to determine what may be the reason for your symptoms and the best treatment for you. During the examination your doctor will pay attention to your manner of conduct, appearance and your interactions with other people. They will look for symptoms of depression, anxiety or psychosis. They will also try to understand why you are experiencing the way you do. They will also need to be aware of if you're taking any medication and what kind of work you perform. They should also know about any past trauma that you have experienced and will be interested in knowing if you have any family members or friends who have experienced similar problems. They will need to determine if you suffer from diabetes or heart disease, which could be the cause of the symptoms. The assessment could last between 30 and 90 minutes depending the reason why you're being assessed. The doctor will require written or oral tests to complete during the assessment and might conduct a physical exam as well. You are entitled to seek a second 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 doctor or care coordinator for help and advice on this. What can I expect during an assessment for mental health? The assessing professional will inquire about your medical history, family history and any other symptoms you've been experiencing. They might also look over your current medications and past treatment for psychiatric disorders. This is important because it helps professionals rule out physical causes of your symptoms. The test will also include physical examination. This could include blood and urine tests as along with an assessment of your reflexes and balance. If you suspect that 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 assist them in making an accurate diagnosis and decide the most effective treatment option for you. But, keep in mind that it could take time to receive an accurate diagnosis. It's normal for patients to feel a bit anxious and frustration as they wait for an answer. In certain situations the assessment of mental health will include a thorough examination of the individual to identify signs such as suicidal thoughts or violence towards themselves or others. This is often a very serious part of the assessment and will require the assistance of a qualified psychotherapist. If mental health assessors decide that someone is a risk to themselves or others, they could decide that the person has to be admitted to hospital. Depending on the circumstances they could be admitted immediately after the assessment or at some later date. The experts will also be able to observe how an individual interacts with family members and other people. They will inquire about the main sources of stress, and any traumatizing experiences the person has experienced. Before the assessment can start the medical professional who will be conducting it must have consent and authorization forms signed by the patient. If the individual's family members are concerned that the assessing professionals might not be giving them the most accurate diagnosis they are able to seek an additional opinion. You can do this through your GP or private therapists, or through community mental health services. What can I do if I'm not happy with my mental health assessment? If you aren't satisfied with the results of your evaluation, it's important that you make a statement. Health and social care professionals must explain the appointment, indicating what will take place and how long it is anticipated to last. They should also tell you who they'll be sharing information with, and why and get your permission prior to sharing any information. You can bring a companion or an advocate to your assessment and they could represent your interests and views. They could be professionals like lawyers, or even volunteers like mental health workers from charities. Some people might find the experience of having an assessment of their mental health challenging or stressful, but it's important to remember that the purpose is to help you get better. If you can't be honest with the professional conducting the assessment they won't be able to assess you and treat you properly. NHS offers free mental health treatment, but you should be aware that there could be waiting lists and waiting can make your symptoms worse. If you are unable to wait for treatment, you can pay privately to receive an assessment and treatment. This is not an option for everyone, but if you are able to pay for it, it's worth considering. It's important to remember that the NHS has changed. In parts of England there are new Integrated Care Systems were introduced that bring together different health and health services. You may be referred by a different Mental Health Team than before. It is crucial to be vocal when you are not happy with the treatment or the assessment. This can be challenging but it's crucial to make a statement. Your mental health professional will be able to provide an appointment for a second opinion or refer you to another service. If they don't, you might want to ask an advocacy group that is independent, such as Rethink or Mind, to make a complaint on your behalf. If you decide to move to another location, the MHT should transfer all of your support to a new provider as quickly as possible. However it's not guaranteed. It's also a good idea to let your MHT know when you're moving house in order to determine how much support you get from them.