Mental Health Assessment - What Happens If You Are Unhappy With Your Mental Health Assessment?
If you have mental health issues, it is important to seek assistance. Mental illness is just as serious as physical ailments.
Everyone should be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of age, gender or ethnicity, religious belief, political, social or cultural background. APP acknowledges the need to combat discrimination.
What is an assessment of mental health?
A mental health assessment is a process that is used to determine how an individual is functioning psychologically, socially and developmentalally. It can also aid in diagnosing disorders like depression or neurological diseases such as dementia.
In the initial assessment, a healthcare professional will sit down with patients and observe them physically. click here for more may ask about the patient's symptoms as well as what's been occurring. They also will assess how the person thinks, reasons and remembers (cognitive functioning).
When assessing, a variety of tests are conducted. They could be formal, standardized tests or informal, non-standardized tests. They could include a problem checklist, a memory test or self-reporting screening tools such as the GHQ or MMSE. These tools can be administered by a general practitioner, or they can be performed by a mental health professional.
Sometimes, lab tests are needed to determine a disorder. These might include blood or urine samples. The tests are generally not painful. The only discomfort is the injection of the blood sample which may feel like a small pinch or sting. In more serious cases the need for an MRI or EEG scan might be required.
When a healthcare professional conducts an assessment, it's essential that they present the most complete picture. This means taking into account the history of the patient's relatives and lifestyle as well as the environment they reside in. This information will be taken into consideration when deciding on the most appropriate course of treatment for the patient.
What should be done during an assessment for mental health services?
The exam should be a time for health professionals to listen and understand what is going on for you. You should use this time to voice your concerns and ask any questions you might have. You should be informed enough about the different treatments to make an informed decision.
You should be greeted in a warm, friendly and compassionate manner by the staff upon arrival (NICE, 2009b). A comfortable waiting area should be provided for use by people who wish to wait in a private space or with a group of people.
During the mental evaluation the doctor will ask you about your thoughts and feelings, and how they impact your day-to-day life and whether or not you've attempted to manage your symptoms on your own. Your doctor will also be observing your behavior. For example, they may observe how you speak and whether you are able to make eye contact. They will also test your reasoning and memory skills by asking questions like recalling short lists and naming common shapes or objects.
If you fall under section 2 of the Mental Health Act, your AMHP will support and guide you throughout the process of assessing you. You may bring a friend or relative with you to the appointment or opt to have an advocate instead, who can represent your interests and views. They can be professionals such as lawyers or even charity workers.
Some people find it difficult to talk about their emotional wellbeing with health professionals, particularly when they have had negative experiences. Many children are unaware that changes in their moods or behaviour can be a an indication of concern. Other families may not know where to turn for assistance. It is vital that healthcare professionals are aware of the impact of previous negative experiences and strive to establish trust.
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 can file an appeal to the CQC. See our guide on making a complaint for more information.
Patients who seek mental health services typically have a lot of different appointments with a range of specialists and may find it difficult to keep track of all the appointments. It is essential to try and be as honest and open as you can to the person doing your assessment. If you do not, you may give the doctor an inaccurate impression of your condition and this could impact your treatment.
A mental illness is a condition that may influence your mood, thinking and behavior. It can affect your work, relationships and day-to-day activities. Depression as well as anxiety disorders and schizophrenia are all common ailments. You can get help for a mental illness by talking to your doctor or family members and friends, or going to a local NHS CAMHS service.
Making sure you receive the right diagnosis and treatment is essential to improving your mental health. NHS England works hard to ensure that everyone receives right treatment at just the right time. This includes reducing delays and ensuring that the correct information is readily available to anyone who needs it. We are also making adjustments to the method we record and share data to help with this.
We would like to ensure that all local mental health services able to keep and share information similar to other NHS organisations. This will enhance the safety and quality of treatment. We want all healthcare providers to have access accurate and current data in real-time, wherever they are. This is part the NHS's commitment Data Saves Lives which aims to reduce the barriers to sharing information across the health and care system.
What do I do if need a second opinion on something?
You may decide to take action if you think that health professionals involved in the assessment of your case don't consider your opinion seriously. You can ask the supervisor of your mental health services to have a different doctor review the case with you, or you could contact one of the NHS helplines for support 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 charities such as Mind or Rethink for advice.
You could decide to get an additional opinion from a different medical professional or doctor or even from your GP. This is a good option when you are not sure about your diagnosis or treatment options, or if there is a disagreement between the doctors regarding the most appropriate option for you.
A study published in American Journal of Medicine found second opinions to be of great value and cost a fraction of what the first opinion would have been. This is because the experts can provide new perspectives and information that can alter the direction of a patient's treatment.
Another reason for seeking an additional opinion is that your initial doctor or healthcare professional might have missed a potential cause or impact of your symptoms. This can be due to a variety of causes including 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 50-minute consultations and work with the majority of the major private insurance companies to ensure that psychiatric services are covered. If you don't have health insurance, we will offer excellent treatment at an affordable price.
What should I do if need an opinion from an expert?
You should be able to arrange an additional opinion if you are dissatisfied with the mental health assessment results. It's not an official right however, most doctors are willing to facilitate it. You can request your GP or the mental health services to make it happen. They will be able to provide you the details of local advocacy services.
The specialist will examine and possibly perform further tests such as blood tests or an X-ray. They will then talk with you about the results and discuss the options for treatment. This might include a hospital stay or other options. When discussing your case the doctor, he should consider your age, gender and social background as in addition to your sexual orientation or disability, religion and religious beliefs, cultural or traditional, and your sexual orientation.
A second opinion can be beneficial as it allows you to compare medical advice and get an entirely new perspective on your healthcare situation from a different doctor. It can help you gain confidence in your diagnosis and treatment options and provide more information on possible adverse effects.
You may have a compelling reason to seek another opinion. For example, you might suspect that you have an unusual or rare illness and would like a second opinion from a specialist to weigh in on your diagnosis and treatment options. Perhaps you've read about other treatments that your provider doesn't offer and you're interested in knowing whether they're suitable for you.
A private Psychiatrist can usually meet with you within a few days and has access to your complete health record. They can also arrange for an online video consultation through Skype or Facetime and an official medical report to be directly sent to your GP.