Mental Health Assessment - What Happens If You Are Unhappy With Your Mental Health Assessment?
If you are suffering from mental health issues, it is important to seek out help. 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, cultural or social background. APP recognizes the need to combat discrimination.
What is a Mental Health Assessment?
A mental health evaluation is an assessment that determines how someone is functioning socially, psychologically, and also in the development stage. It can also be used to diagnose conditions like depression or neurological diseases like dementia.
In an initial evaluation, a healthcare professional will sit down with the patient and observe them physically. They might also ask questions regarding their symptoms and the difficulties they've gone through. They will also test the person's capacity to think and reason, as well as remember (cognitive function).
There are a variety of different tests that can be performed during an assessment. They could be formal, standardized tests or informal, non-standardized tests. They could include a troubleshooting checklist as well as a memory test. self-reporting screening tools such as the GHQ or MMSE. These tools may be administered by general practitioners or mental health professionals.
Sometimes, patients will require laboratory tests to determine if they have a problem. This could include blood or urine samples. These tests are typically not painful. The only discomfort could be caused by the injection of blood which may be felt as a small pinch or sting. In more severe instances it is possible that an MRI scan or EEG could be required.
When a healthcare professional performs an examination, it is important that they have the most complete picture. This includes taking into consideration the patient's family history, lifestyle, and the environment in which they live. This information will be considered when deciding on the ideal method of treatment for the patient.
What should happen during an assessment at a mental health service?
The assessment should be a time for healthcare professionals to be attentive and understand the situation for you. You should use this time to express your concerns and ask any questions you have. You should also be given enough information on the various treatments, so that you are able to make an informed choice.
You should be welcomed with a warm, welcoming and understanding manner by staff upon your arrival (NICE, 2009b). A comfortable waiting area should be made available for those who prefer to wait on their own or with others.
During the mental evaluation during the mental evaluation, your doctor will inquire with you about your thoughts and feelings, how they affect your day-to-day life and whether or not you've tried to manage your symptoms by yourself. Your doctor will also watch how you act. For instance, they could observe how you speak and whether you are able to make eye contact. They will also test your memory and reasoning skills by asking simple questions like recalling short lists and naming common objects or shapes.
If you fall under section 2 of the Mental Health Act, the AMHP will guide and support you throughout the assessment. You can invite a relative or friend to the appointment or opt to have a professional advocate represent your views and interests. They could be professionals such as lawyers or even charity workers.
Some people find it difficult to discuss their emotional wellbeing with health professionals, particularly in the case of previous negative experiences. Some children don't realize that changes in their moods or behaviour can be a an indication of worry. Some families might not know where to go for help. It is vital that all healthcare professionals understand the impact of previous negative experiences and work hard to establish trust.
What should I do if not satisfied with the assessment?
If you have been assessed under the Mental Health Act and you are not happy with it, you can make a complaint to the CQC. See our guide on making complaints for more details.
People who use mental health services often have many different appointments with a variety of specialists and may find it difficult to keep track of them all. It is crucial to try and be as transparent and honest as possible with the person conducting your assessment. If you do not, you may give the doctor wrong impressions of your condition and this could affect your care.
Mental illness can influence your mood and thoughts. It can cause problems with relationships, work and daily activities. Some common conditions include anxiety disorders, depression and schizophrenia. You can seek help for a mental illness by talking to your GP 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 proper treatment at the right time. This includes reducing delays and ensuring that the right information is readily available to anyone who requires it. We are also making changes to the way we collect and share data to help with this.
We would like to see all local mental health services be able record and share data the same as other NHS organisations. book a mental health assessment will improve the safety and quality of care. We want all healthcare providers to have access accurate and current data in real-time, wherever they are. This is part of the NHS's commitment to Data Saves Lives, which is designed to remove the barriers to effective sharing of information across the health and social care systems.
What should happen if I need to seek to get a second opinion?
You may take action if you feel that health experts involved in the assessment of your case don't consider your opinion seriously. You can ask the supervisor of your mental health care for a different specialist to discuss the situation with you, or you could call one of the NHS helplines for assistance in your area. If you live in England the NHS offers a service called EIT (Emergency Intervention Team) which will send a crisis response team out to your home. You can also seek assistance from local voluntary groups or charities, like Mind or Rethink.
You might want to seek an opinion from a different doctor or medical specialist, or even your GP. This is a great idea if you are unsure about your diagnosis or treatment options or if there's disagreement between your doctors on the best option for you.
A study published in the American Journal of Medicine found that second opinions offer significant value, and only a small portion of the cost of a first opinion. The experts can provide new perspectives and provide information that could change the course of a patient's treatment.
Another reason to seek an additional opinion is that the initial doctor or healthcare professional may have overlooked a possible reason or cause for your symptoms. This could be due to many reasons, such as misdiagnosis or simply not paying attention carefully to your story.
At Dementech We can organize a private mental health assessment for you with our psychiatrists. We provide standard consultations of 50 minutes, and we partner with a variety of major private insurance providers to ensure that your treatment for psychiatric issues is covered. If, however, you don't have insurance, we are in a position to provide top quality and affordable care.
What should I do if require an additional opinion from an expert?
If you are unhappy with the results of your mental health evaluation and you want a second opinion, it's possible to request this. It's not an option that is legally protected however, most doctors are willing to help. You can ask your GP or the mental health services to help make this happen. They should be able to give you details of local advocacy services.
The doctor will evaluate and possibly perform further tests, such as blood tests and X-rays. They will then inform you about the results and discuss the options available for treatment. This could include medications or hospitalization, as well as other options. The doctor should take into account your gender, age social background, your social background, religious beliefs, sexual orientation as well as your disability, religious or cultural beliefs when talking with you.
A second opinion is useful because it lets you review medical advice and gain an entirely new perspective on your health situation from a different doctor. It can help you gain confidence in your diagnosis and treatment options and provide more information about potential side effects.
You may have a strong reason for wanting an additional opinion. You might be worried that you have an unusual or rare condition and you'd like to have an opinion from a specialist regarding the diagnosis and treatment options. You might have read about treatments your doctor doesn't offer and would like to know if they are suitable for you.
A private Psychiatrist can usually see you within a couple of days and has access to your complete health record. They can also arrange for an online video consultation via Skype or Facetime and medical reports to be directly sent to your GP.