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Mental Health Assessment – What to Expect Mental health issues can have a significant impact on people's physical and mental health. If you're concerned about your mental health, it's important to take action and seek help as quickly as possible. A new law is in force, which grants service users the right to an independent advocacy. It also requires local authorities and Health Boards to offer advocacy services. What is an assessment of mental health? Mental health assessments are designed to assist healthcare professionals understand the problems you're facing. They can be used for to determine the best treatment option for you, whether it is therapy or medication. They can be used to monitor your treatment over time and evaluate its effectiveness. A mental health assessment starts with a discussion about your symptoms and how they're affecting your life. It's important to be honest with the health professional during this phase of the process because it could have a huge influence on the kind of treatment you receive. The assessment process can include psychometric tests and interviews. These questionnaires may be verbal or written, and they might ask questions about your feelings, thoughts, and memory. They could also ask questions regarding things like your family history, and any previous mental health issues. As part of the assessment, the healthcare professional will conduct a physical exam. This can help them determine any medical conditions that could be causing your symptoms, like diabetes or thyroid problems. During the mental health assessment, a healthcare professional will be observing your behavior and ask you about any problems at home or at work. They may also inquire about your previous experiences with alcohol or drugs and any risk factors for mental illness, like an ancestor's history of depression or genetic traits. They could also inquire about any medications you are taking and check whether your symptoms are linked to a specific medication. In certain situations medical professionals may choose to conduct a more detailed psychological examination. This is typically conducted to find out more about the underlying cause of the symptoms and also to look at your personality, past experiences, and interests. They may also conduct tests to see how your brain is functioning, such as measuring your reaction times and observing your eye movements. These tests are referred to as neuropsychological testing. A psychologist or psychiatrist may complete a psychiatric assessment. These professionals are trained to diagnose and treating mental disorders. They will examine you with a mix of psychological and physical techniques and will discuss your condition with you in depth. What happens during a psychological test? The doctor will ask about your thoughts and feelings and also your behavior. They will also look at any previous diagnoses or treatments you may have received. They will also consider your family history, your social history and any other information they think could be useful in determining the source of your symptoms. Answer every question honestly. This will give the doctor the best chance of getting an accurate diagnosis. It is important to be honest and forthcoming when answering the questions. The assessment will assist your doctor to determine what is the reason for your symptoms and the best treatment for you. During the interview your doctor will also pay attention to how you conduct yourself, your appearance and the way that you interact with other people. They will look for signs of psychosis, anxiety or depression, and will try to figure out the emotions you are experiencing. They should also know if you are taking any medication and what kind of work you perform. They will also need to know whether you have had any previous trauma and if you know of people who have experienced similar problems. They will also need to know if you suffer from a medical condition that could be causing your symptoms, such as heart disease or diabetes. The examination will take between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on the reason for being seen. The doctor may have to conduct written or verbal assessments as well as a physical exam during the exam. If you're not satisfied with the results of your mental health assessment you are entitled to seek a second opinion. The local NHS trust has a procedure for this and will be able to arrange for it. You can also contact your doctor or care coordinator for advice and help. What should I expect during a mental health assessment? The professional assessing you will ask questions about your medical history, your family history and any symptoms you've been experiencing. They might also look over your current medications and previous treatments for psychiatric issues. This is important as it can help doctors identify any physical cause for your symptoms. Your assessment will include physical examination. This could include urine and blood tests as along with a review of your reflexes and balance. If you think you're suffering from a neurological issue you may also be referred to an EEG or CT scan. It is essential to be honest during the interview and be able to answer all the questions asked by the professional assessing you. This will allow them to identify the problem and determine the treatment that is best for you. Remember that getting an accurate diagnosis may take time. It's common for people to feel anxious and frustrated as they wait for a diagnosis. In certain situations, a full mental health assessment will involve checking an individual for signs of suicidal behavior or violence toward themselves or other people. This is often a very serious aspect of the evaluation and will require the help of a trained therapist. If the mental health assessors discover that a person poses a threat to themselves or others, they may decide that the person needs to be hospitalized. Based on the circumstances, they might be admitted right after the assessment or at some later date. The experts will also be able to observe how a person interacts with relatives and other individuals. They will ask about the most important causes of stress, as well as any traumatic events that the person has been through. Before the assessment can start, the doctor who will be conducting it must have the consent and authorization forms signed by the patient. You can always seek an additional opinion if family members of the individual are concerned that the professionals assessing them might not be providing the most accurate diagnosis. This can be done through your doctor or private therapists as well as community mental health services. What should I do if I'm not happy with my mental health assessment? It is crucial to tell someone in the event that you are not happy with the outcome of an assessment. Health and social care professionals must explain the appointment, including the nature of the appointment and how long it's expected to last. They should also explain to you the reasons and the reason they will share your information, and ask permission before sharing. You may bring a friend, or advocate to your assessment. They could represent your interests and views. They could be volunteers like mental health charity workers or they could be professionals, like lawyers. Some people might find the experience of having an assessment for mental health difficult or stressful, but it's important to remember that the aim is to help you get better. If you don't share your truth with the person conducting the assessment they won't be able evaluate you and treat you appropriately. The NHS offers no-cost mental health services, but it's important to consider that there may be waiting lists for treatment and this could make your symptoms worse. If you feel you're unable to wait, you could pay to have an assessment and treatment privately. This is not an option for everyone but when you can afford it, it's definitely worth considering. It's also worth keeping in mind that the way the NHS operates has changed. In certain parts of England, new Integrated Care Systems were introduced which connect various health and health services. You may be referred by a different Mental Health Team than before. If you think the treatment or evaluation you're receiving isn't working for you, it's important to say so. It isn't easy to voice your concerns but it's important. Your mental health professional will be able to arrange for an additional opinion or suggest a different service. If they do not then you may want to seek out an advocacy group that is independent, such as Rethink, or Mind to submit a complaint on your behalf. The MHT will transfer your care to the new provider as soon as possible in the event of a move, but it's not guaranteed. It is also important to let your MHT know that you are moving, as it could affect the level of support they provide you with.