Mental Health Assessment - What to Expect Mental health issues can have a an impact on the lives of people and their physical health If you're concerned about your mental health, it's important to act and seek help as soon as you can A new law is in force, which grants the users of services the right to an independent advocacy It also places duties on local authorities and Health Boards to offer advocacy services What is a Mental Health Assessment Mental health assessments are designed to aid healthcare professionals understand the problems you are experiencing They can be used to find the best treatment options for you, whether that is therapy or medication They can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of your current treatment and track changes over time A mental health assessment begins with a discussion about your symptoms and how they impact your life It is crucial to be open with your health professional during this phase of the process, as it can have a big impact on what kind of treatment you receive The assessment process may include interviews and psychometric testing These questionnaires can be either written or verbal, and can focus on questions about how you feel about your thoughts, how you feel, and your memory These questionnaires can also inquire about your family history or previous mental health problems In addition to these questionnaires medical professional may decide to conduct physical examination as part of the assessment This will aid in determining any medical conditions that may be causing your symptoms, such as thyroid or diabetes During the mental health assessment, a health professional will monitor your behaviour and ask you about any issues you may have at home or at work https//zenwritingnet/ramiebengal1/15-funny-people-working-in-mental-health-assessment-london-in-mental-health may also ask about your past experiences with alcohol or drugs, and any risk factors for mental illness, like a family history of depression or genetic traits They may also ask you about any medication you're taking and assess if your symptoms are related to specific medications In some cases medical professionals may choose to conduct an additional psychological exam This is usually conducted to find out more about the cause of symptoms and to look at your personality, past experiences, and interests They may also perform tests to see the way your brain works including taking note of your reaction times and looking at your eye movements These tests are referred to as neuropsychological tests A psychiatric examination is performed by a psychiatrist or psychologist They are doctors who have expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders They will examine you using a combination of psychological and physical techniques and will discuss your condition with you in detail What happens during an assessment of mental health The doctor will ask about your thoughts and feelings and also your behavior They will also look at any previous diagnoses or treatments that you might have received They will also consider your family and social history, as well as any other information that might aid them in determining the cause of your symptoms It is important that you answer all of the questions in a straight and honest manner This will give your doctor the best chance to provide an accurate diagnosis Some of the questions you are asked might be triggering or sensitive However, it is vital that you try to talk about your feelings and experiences with confidence This is because the evaluation will help your doctor figure out what could be the cause of your symptoms and what kind of treatment is most suitable for you During the interview your doctor will also be looking at the way you behave in your appearance, how you dress and the way you interact with other people They will be looking for any symptoms of depression, anxiety or psychosis They will try to understand why you are feeling the way that you do They'll also want to know what kind of work you perform and if you use any medications They will also need to be aware of if you've experienced any previous trauma and if you know of people who have experienced similar issues They should know whether you have diabetes or heart disease, which could be causing the symptoms The test will take between 30 to 90 minutes, based on the reason why you are being seen The doctor will require written or verbal tests to complete during the exam and may carry out a physical examination as well You are entitled to seek a second opinion if you're not satisfied with the results of your mental health assessment This can be done through your local NHS trust You can also contact your psychiatrist or care coordinator for advice and help What should I expect during a mental health assessment The assessing professional will inquire about your medical history, family history, and any issues you've experienced They may also review your current medications and previous treatments for psychiatric issues This is important as it assists professionals in ruling out physical causes for your symptoms The test will include physical examination It could involve urine and blood tests, and also a review of your reflexes If they suspect you be suffering from a neurological disorder it is possible to request an EEG scan or CT scan It is important to be truthful and answer all the questions asked by the doctor assessing you This will enable them to determine the most accurate diagnosis and determine what treatment is best for you However, remember that it may take time to get an accurate diagnosis It's common for people to be anxious and angry as they wait for a diagnose In some instances the full mental health assessment will involve the person being examined for signs of suicidal behaviour or violence toward themselves or other people This is usually a serious aspect of the evaluation and will require the assistance of a trained therapist If the mental health assessors discover that someone poses a risk to themselves or others, they could decide that the person needs to be hospitalized Based on their situation they could be admitted right away following their assessment or later The professionals will also be able see how a person interacts with family members and with other people They'll ask questions about the main sources of stress as well as any traumatizing events that have occurred in the life of the person The medical professionals who conduct the assessment will need to have completed consent and authorization forms from the individual before the evaluation can begin If the family members of the patient are worried that the professionals assessing them may not be providing the best diagnoses, they can always get an alternative opinion You can do this by contacting your GP or private therapists as well as community mental health services What can I do if I'm unhappy with my mental health assessment It's important to speak up in the event that you are not happy with the outcome of an assessment Health and social care professionals must explain the appointment, indicating the nature of the appointment and how long anticipated to last They should also tell you why and who will share your personal information, and request your permission prior to sharing You can bring a friend, or advocate to your appointment They can represent your interests and views They could be professionals such as lawyers or even volunteers such as mental health workers from charities It's important to remember the aim of a mental health evaluation is to help people get better If you don't share your truth with the person conducting the assessment they won't be able to evaluate you and treat you appropriately NHS provides free mental health services however, you must be aware that there could be waiting lists, and the wait could make your symptoms worse If you're unable to wait, you can pay to have an assessment and treatment privately This isn't an option for everyone, but should you be able to afford it, it's worth looking into It's important to be aware that the NHS has changed New Integrated Care Systems have been rolled out in parts of England and these connect various health and care organizations You could be referred by a different Mental Health Team than before https//hobbsfisker38livejournalcom/profile is crucial to be vocal in the event that you don't agree with the treatment or assessment It's not easy, but it's important that you speak up Your mental health professional will be able to get a second opinion, or suggest a different service If they don't, you might want to contact an advocacy group that is independent, such as Rethink, or Mind to submit a complaint on your behalf If you decide to move your home, the MHT should transfer all of your care to a new service as soon as is possible However it's not guaranteed It is important to inform your MHT know that you are moving, as it could impact the assistance you receive from them