Mental Health Assessment - What Happens If You Are Unhappy With Your Mental Health Assessment?
If you have a mental health problem it is crucial to seek help. Mental illness can be as severe as physical disease.
Everyone should be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of gender, age or ethnicity, religious belief, political, cultural or social background. APP acknowledges the need to fight discrimination.
What is a Mental Health Assessment?
A mental health assessment is a test that is used to determine how an individual is functioning psychologically, socially, and in terms of development. It can also help diagnose diseases like depression and neurological diseases such as dementia.
In the initial assessment, a healthcare professional will sit down with the patient and observe them physically. They might also ask questions about their symptoms and the difficulties they've gone through. They will also check the way the person thinks, makes decisions and remembers (cognitive functioning).
There are a variety of different tests that can be carried out during an assessment. These can be formal and standardized or informal and non-standardized. They could include a list of issues, a memory check or a self report screening tool like the GHQ or MMSE. These tools can be administered by general practitioners or mental health professionals.
Sometimes, lab tests are needed to determine a disorder. These tests could include urine or blood samples. The tests are generally not painful. The only discomfort is caused by the injection of blood, which can be felt as a small pinch or itching. In more serious instances the need for an MRI scan or EEG could be required.
It is important for a healthcare professional to have the most complete picture possible when they conduct an assessment. This involves taking into consideration the history of the patient's family and lifestyle as well as the surroundings in which they live. This information is considered when deciding on the best course of treatment for the patient.
What should be done during an assessment for mental health services?
The exam should be an opportunity for health professionals to listen and comprehend what is going on for you. It is advisable to use this opportunity to discuss your concerns and ask any questions you may have. You should be well-informed about the various treatments available to make an informed decision.
The staff should greet you in a warm and welcoming manner, with empathy and respect at the time of your arrival (NICE 2009b). A comfortable waiting area should be made available to those who prefer to wait on their own or with others.
During the mental assessment, your doctor may ask you questions regarding your thoughts and feelings, how they impact your daily routine, and if you have tried to manage your symptoms by yourself. Your doctor will also watch how you act. For instance, they could observe how you speak and when you make eye contact. They will also test you on your memory and reasoning abilities by asking you simple questions, such as recalling brief lists and naming common shapes or objects.
If you fall within section 2 of the Mental Health Act, your AMHP will assist and guide you throughout the assessment. You can bring along an individual or a friend to your appointment or opt to have a professional advocate represent your interests and views. They could be professionals such as lawyers or even charity workers.
Some people find it difficult to discuss their mental health with healthcare professionals, especially in the event of negative experiences in the past. Some children do not realise that changes in their mood and behavior are cause for concern, while others may not know who to for assistance. It is crucial that all healthcare professionals are aware of the consequences of past experiences that were not positive and that they work hard to establish trust.
What should I do if not satisfied with the assessment?
If you are unhappy with the diagnosis you received under the Mental Health Act, you may file a complaint to the CQC. For more information, see our guide on how to submit a complaint.
It can be a challenge for people who use mental healthcare services to keep the track of all appointments. It is important to try and be as open and honest as possible with the person doing your assessment. If you are not, the professional may have a different view of your performance and this can affect your care.
Mental illness can affect your mood and mental thinking. It can lead to problems with relationships, work and daily activities. The most common disorders are anxiety disorders, depression and schizophrenia. You can get help for a mental illness by talking to your GP as well as your family and friends or going to an NHS local CAMHS service.
The most important factor in improving mental health is getting the appropriate assessment and treatment. NHS England works hard to make sure everyone receives the proper treatment at the right time. This includes reducing delays and ensuring that the right information is available to all who require it. We are also making changes to the way we collect and share information to facilitate this.
We would like to see all local mental healthcare services be able collect and share data similar to other NHS organizations. This will help to improve the safety and quality of treatment. Our aim is to ensure that all providers have access to accurate and up-to-date data in real-time, no matter where they are. This is part of the NHS's mission Data Saves Lives which aims to eliminate the obstacles to information sharing across the health and care system.
What should I do if I need a second opinion on something?
If you believe that the health professionals who participated in your assessment aren't taking your opinion seriously, there are a few things you can do. You can request your manager to send a different professional out to review your case or call an NHS helpline in your area to get help. If you reside in England and have a problem, the NHS offers a service called EIT (Emergency Intervention Team) that 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 additional opinion from a different medical professional or doctor, or even your GP. This is a great idea in case you are uncertain about your diagnosis or treatment options or if there's disagreement between your doctors on the best course of action.
A study published in American Journal of Medicine found second opinions to be of substantial value and cost a fraction of what the first opinion would have been. The reason for this is that experts are able to provide new perspectives and additional information that can alter the course of care for a patient.
Another reason to seek a second opinion is that the original doctor or healthcare professional might have missed a potential reason or cause for your symptoms. This can be due to a variety of reasons, such as a misdiagnosis or a doctor who isn't listening to your story.
Dementech can arrange for an individual mental assessment with one of our psychiatrists. We provide standard consultations of 50 minutes, and we partner with the majority of major private insurance providers to ensure that your mental health treatment is covered. However, if what is a mental health assessment don't have insurance, we are still able to provide excellent and affordable care.
What do I do if require an additional opinion from a specialist?
If you are not satisfied with the results of your mental health assessment and would like an additional opinion, it should be possible to request this. There is no legal right to it, but doctors will rarely refuse to make it happen 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 like blood tests and X-rays. They will inform you about their findings and discuss the options for treatment. This could include medication, hospitalization or other options. The doctor should take into account your gender, age social background, your social background, religious beliefs, sexual orientation and disability as well as religious or cultural beliefs when discussing your concerns with you.
A second opinion can be beneficial because it lets you examine the advice of different experts and gain an entirely new perspective on your health situation. It will give you more confidence in your diagnosis and treatment options, and can provide more information about potential side effects.
There could be a compelling reason to seek an additional opinion. For example, you might think you may have a rare or unusual illness and want a different doctor to assess your diagnosis and treatment options. You may have heard about treatments that your provider does not provide and you would like to know if they are safe for you.
A private Psychiatrist will typically be able to consult with you within a few days and will typically have access to all your medical records. They can also arrange an appointment via video on Skype, Facetime or a telephone call and send the medical report directly to your GP.