The 10 Scariest Things About Mental Health Assessment
Mental Health Assessment – What Happens If You Are Unhappy With Your Mental Health Assessment? It is important to get help if you have problems with your mental health. Mental illness can be as severe as physical illness. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, religion or political, social or cultural background. APP recognises the need to fight discrimination. What is a mental health assessment? A mental health assessment is a test that is used to determine how an individual is functioning psychologically, socially, and in terms of development. It can also aid in diagnosing diseases like depression and neurological diseases such as dementia. In an initial evaluation, a healthcare professional will interview a patient and observe them physically. They may ask about the patient's symptoms and what's happening. They will also check how the person thinks, reason and remembers (cognitive functioning). During an assessment, a variety of tests can be conducted. They can be formal, standardized tests or informal, non-standardized tests. They may include a problem checklist or a memory test, or self-reporting screening tools like the GHQ or MMSE. These tools may be administered by general practitioners or by mental health professionals. Sometimes, people will require lab tests to help diagnose a disorder. This may include blood or urine samples. These tests are usually not painful. The only discomfort may be the injection of the blood sample which may feel like a small pinch or itching. In more serious cases, an MRI or EEG scan may be required. When a healthcare professional performs an assessment, it's important that they have the most complete picture. This involves taking into consideration the patient's lifestyle, family history and environment. This information will be taken into consideration when deciding on the most appropriate method of treatment for the patient. What should be done during an assessment in mental health services The examination is a chance for health professionals to listen and comprehend your situation. It is crucial to take this opportunity to share your concerns and ask questions. You should also be given enough information about different treatments, to allow you to make an informed choice. Staff should greet you in a warm and welcoming manner with respect and empathy when you arrive (NICE 2009b). A comfortable waiting area should be provided to those who want to wait alone or with a group of people. During the mental exam Your doctor might ask you questions regarding your thoughts and emotions and how they affect your daily routine, and if you have tried to manage symptoms by yourself. Your doctor will also be watching the way you behave. For instance, they could look at how you speak and whether you are able to make eye contact. They will also test your memory and ability to reason by asking you simple questions such as recalling lists of short sentences or naming common shapes and objects. If assessing mental health fall within section 2 of the Mental Health Act, the AMHP will help and guide you throughout the assessment. You may bring an individual or a friend to the appointment or opt to have an advocate from a professional represent your views and interests. They can be professionals such as lawyers or even charity workers. Some people find it difficult to discuss their emotional health with health professionals, especially if they've had negative experiences in the past. Some children do not realise that changes in their mood or behavior are cause for worry, and others may not know who to turn to for help. It is crucial that all healthcare professionals are aware of the effects of their previous experiences and that they are able to establish a trusting relationship. What should I do if I'm unhappy with the results of the test? If you've been assessed under the Mental Health Act and you aren't happy with it you may make a complaint to the CQC. Learn more about how to make complaints for more details. People who utilize mental health services often have a lot of different appointments with a variety of professionals and may find it difficult to keep track of all the appointments. It is important to be as open and honest as possible with the person who is conducting your assessment. If you don't, you may give the doctor a false impression of your health condition and this could impact the care you receive. Mental illness can affect your mood and thinking. It can affect your relationships, work, and everyday activities. The most common disorders are depression, anxiety disorders and schizophrenia. You can seek help for mental illness from your physician as well as your family and friends or by visiting an NHS local CAMHS. The key to improving mental health is receiving the appropriate assessment and treatment. NHS England works hard to ensure that everyone receives the appropriate treatment at the right time. This includes reducing the time taken to get treatment and ensuring that the correct information is accessible to everyone who needs it. To facilitate this, we are changing the way we record and share information. We want to see all local mental healthcare services able to record and share data the same as other NHS organizations. This will increase the safety of patients and improve the quality of treatment. Our goal is for all providers to have access to current and accurate data in real-time regardless of where they are. This is part of the NHS's commitment to Data Saves Lives, which seeks to eliminate the barriers to efficient sharing of data across the health and social care systems. What do I do if require a second opinion on something? If you feel that the health professionals who participated in your assessment aren't taking your concerns seriously, there are some things you can do. You can ask your manager to send another expert to review your situation or contact an NHS helpline within your region for assistance. If you live in England and have a problem, the NHS has a service called EIT (Emergency Intervention Team) that will send an emergency response team to your home. You can also seek assistance from local groups of volunteers or charities, like Mind or Rethink. You might want to seek a second opinion, either by a medical professional or a different doctor. Your GP is also able to provide an alternative opinion. This is a good option in case you are uncertain about your diagnosis or treatment options, or if there is disagreement between doctors regarding the most appropriate option for you. A study published in the American Journal of Medicine found that second opinions can provide significant value, and only a portion of the cost of a first opinion. The experts can provide new perspectives and insights that can alter the course of the patient's treatment. Another reason to seek a second opinion is that the original healthcare provider or doctor may have missed a possible reason or cause for your symptoms. This can be due to a variety of causes like an incorrect diagnosis or a doctor who does not listen to your story. Dementech can arrange for a private mental assessment with one of our psychiatrists. We offer standard consultations of 50 minutes, and we partner with most major private insurance providers to ensure that your psychiatric treatment is covered. If, however, you don't have insurance, we're able to provide excellent and affordable care. What should I do if require a second opinion from an expert? If you are not satisfied with the results of your mental health assessment and would like to seek a second opinion, it's possible to request this. There is no legal right to do this however, doctors are very unlikely to refuse to arrange it for you. You can request your GP or the mental health services to make this happen. They should be able give you the contact information for local advocacy services. The doctor will evaluate you and may do further tests, for example blood tests and an X-ray. The doctor will discuss their findings with you and the treatment options available to you. This could include medication or hospitalization as well as other options. The doctor should take into account your age, gender, social background, religious beliefs, sexual orientation as well as your disability, religious beliefs when discussing your concerns with you. A second opinion is beneficial because it lets you review medical advice and gain a fresh view of your healthcare situation from a different doctor. It will help you feel more confident regarding the diagnosis and treatment options and it can also give you more details on the potential side effects of each option. There may be a justification to seek an additional opinion. You may be worried that you have an unusual or rare condition and you'd like to have a second opinion from a specialist on your diagnosis and treatment options. Or maybe you have been reading about other treatments your doctor doesn't provide and you want to know whether they're safe for you. A private Psychiatrist should be able to see you within several days and will normally have access to all of your health records. They can also schedule an online video consultation through Skype or Facetime and medical reports to be sent directly to your GP.