Mental Health Assessment - What Happens If You Are Unhappy With Your Mental Health Assessment?
If you have an issue with your mental health it is essential to seek out help. Mental illness can be as severe as physical ailments.
Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, religion or social, cultural or political background. APP recognizes the need to combat discrimination.
What is an assessment of mental health?
A mental health evaluation is an assessment that determines how an individual is performing psychologically, socially, and developmental. It can also aid in diagnosing diseases like depression and neurological diseases such as dementia.
In the initial assessment an healthcare professional will talk to a patient and observe them physically. They may ask about the patient's health issues and what's been occurring. They will also test the person's ability to think and reason, as well as remember (cognitive function).
There are a variety of different tests that can be carried out during an assessment. They could be formal and standardized or informal and non-standardized. These tools may include a checklist of problems and a memory test or a self report screening tool such as the GHQ or MMSE. These tools can be administered by a general practitioner or performed by mental health professionals.
Sometimes, people require lab tests to help diagnose a disorder. These tests may include urine or blood samples. Most of the time, these tests are not painful. The only discomfort is caused by the injection of blood which can be felt as a small pinch or the sensation of stinging. In more serious cases it is possible that an MRI or EEG scan may be required.
It is crucial for a healthcare professional to have the most complete picture when they carry out an assessment. This includes taking into account the patient's life style, family history, and their environment. This information will be considered when deciding the best treatment for the patient.
What should happen during an assessment at mental health services?
The exam is a chance for health professionals to listen and understand what is happening to you. It is advisable to use this opportunity to discuss your concerns and ask any questions you may have. You should be informed enough about the different treatments to make an educated decision.
You should be greeted in a warm, friendly and understanding manner by the staff upon arrival (NICE 2009b). A comfortable waiting area should be made available for those who wish to wait in a private space or with others.
During the mental evaluation, your doctor will ask you about your thoughts and feelings, how they affect your day-to-day life and whether or not you've attempted to manage your symptoms by yourself. Your doctor will also observe the way you conduct yourself. For how do you get a mental health assessment , they might observe how you speak and if you make eye contact. They will also test your memory and ability to think by asking you questions that are simple such as recalling lists of short sentences or naming common objects and shapes.
If you are a victim of section 2 of the Mental Health Act, the AMHP will guide and support you throughout the assessment. You may bring your friend or relative to the appointment or opt to have a professional advocate represent your views and interests. They could be volunteers, like those who work for charities or professionals like lawyers.
Some people find it difficult to discuss their mental health issues with healthcare professionals, especially if they have had previous negative experiences. Many children are unaware that changes in their mood or behaviour could be cause for anxiety. Some families might not know where to go for assistance. It is crucial that all healthcare professionals comprehend the impact of past poor experiences and strive to establish trust.
What should I do if I am unhappy with the assessment?
If you've been referred to under the Mental Health Act and you are not satisfied with the results you may make a complaint to the CQC. Check out our guide on how to make complaints for more details.
People who utilize mental health services typically have a lot of different appointments with various professionals and may find it difficult to keep track of all the appointments. It is essential to be as transparent and honest as possible with the person who is conducting your assessment. If you do not then you could give the doctor wrong impressions of your condition and this could affect your care.
Mental illness can affect your mood and thinking. It can cause problems with work, relationships, and daily activities. Depression as well as anxiety disorders and schizophrenia are all common disorders. You can seek help for a mental illness by talking to your doctor or family members and friends, or visiting a local NHS CAMHS service.
Making sure you receive the appropriate assessment and treatment is key to improving your mental health. NHS England is working hard to ensure that everyone receives appropriate treatment at the appropriate time. This includes reducing wait times and ensuring that the right information is accessible to everyone who requires it. We are also making changes to the way we record and share data to support this.
We would like all local mental health services to be able to collect and share data in the same manner as other NHS organizations. This will enhance the safety and quality of care. We want all providers to be able to access accurate and up-to-date information in real-time, no matter where they are. This is part the NHS's mission Data Saves Lives which aims to eliminate the obstacles to information sharing across the health and healthcare system.
What should happen if I would like to get an additional opinion?
You are able to take action if you believe that health professionals involved in the evaluation of your case do not consider your opinion seriously. You can ask the supervisor of your mental health care to have a different doctor discuss the situation with you, or contact one of the NHS helplines to get assistance in your region. If you live in England the NHS provides a service known as EIT that will send out a crisis response team to your home. You can also contact local volunteer groups, or charitable organizations like Mind or Rethink for advice.
You might want to seek a second opinion from another medical professional or doctor or even your GP. This is advisable when you're not sure about your diagnosis or treatment options, or when the doctors aren't agreeing on the best treatment option.
A study published in American Journal of Medicine found second opinions to be of substantial value and cost just a fraction of what a first opinion would have cost. This is because experts can provide new perspectives and more information that can alter the direction of a patient's treatment.
A second opinion could be required in the event that your healthcare professional has not identified a cause for your symptoms. This could be due to a variety of causes like a mistaken diagnosis or a physician who does not listen to your concerns.
At Dementech We can arrange a private mental health assessment for you with our psychiatrists. We offer standard consultations of 50 minutes, and we partner with the majority of major private insurance companies to ensure that your mental health treatment is covered. If, however, you do not have insurance, we are able to provide excellent and affordable treatment.
What should I do if I require an opinion from an expert?
You can arrange an additional opinion if you are dissatisfied with your mental health assessment results. There is no legal right to do this however, doctors are very unlikely to refuse to arrange it for you. You can ask your GP or the mental health services to help make this happen. They should be able give you the details of local advocacy services.
The doctor will look at and may perform additional tests, such as blood tests and an X-ray. The doctor will discuss their findings with you as well as the options for treatment. This could involve medication or hospitalization as well as other options. When talking to you, the doctor should consider your age, gender and social background, as along with your sexual preference, disability, religion and religious beliefs, cultural or traditional and your sexual orientation.
A second opinion can be beneficial as it allows you compare medical advice from different experts and gain a new perspective on your health situation. It can help you feel more confident about your diagnosis and treatment options and also provide you more details on the potential side effects of each option.
There could be a strong reason for wanting a second opinion. For instance, you may believe that you suffer from a rare or unusual illness and would like a second opinion from a specialist to assess your diagnosis and treatment options. You might have read about treatments your doctor does not offer and want to know if these are safe for you.
A private Psychiatrist will usually be able to consult with you within just a few days and will normally have access to all your medical records. They can also arrange an appointment via video on Skype, Facetime or a phone call and then send an official medical report directly to your GP.