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 assistance. Mental illness is as serious as physical illness.
Everyone should be treated with respect and dignity irrespective of age, gender or ethnicity, religious belief, political, cultural or social background. APP recognises the need to combat discrimination.
What is a mental health assessment?
A mental health assessment is an examination that determines the extent to which an individual is performing socially, psychologically, and in terms of developmental. It can also be used to identify conditions like depression or neurological diseases like dementia.
In the initial assessment the healthcare professional will talk to the patient and observe them physically. They might also ask questions about their symptoms or what they have been going through. I Am Psychiatry can also assess how the person thinks, reason and remembers (cognitive functioning).
There are many different tests that can be carried out during an assessment. They can be formal and standardized, or informal and non-standardized. These tools could include a checklist of problems, a memory check or self report screening tool such as the GHQ or MMSE. These tools can be administered by general practitioners or mental health professionals.
Sometimes, laboratory tests are needed to determine an illness. These tests could include urine or blood samples. These tests are usually not painful. The only discomfort may be the injection of the blood sample, which may feel like a small pinch or sting. In more serious cases it is possible that an MRI or EEG scan might be required.
When a healthcare professional conducts an assessment, it is essential that they present the most complete picture. This involves taking into consideration the patient's lifestyle, family history and their environment. This information will be taken into consideration when deciding on the most appropriate treatment for the patient.
What should happen during an assessment at mental health services?
The examination will let health professionals to listen and comprehend your situation. It is advisable to use this opportunity to discuss your concerns and ask any questions you may have. It is also important to be provided with enough information on the various options, allowing you to make an informed decision.
You should be welcomed with a warm, welcoming and compassionate manner by the staff upon arrival (NICE, 2009b). A comfortable waiting area should be available for use by people who wish to wait in a private space or with a group of people.
During the mental assessment Your doctor might ask you questions regarding your thoughts and emotions, how they impact your daily life, and if you've attempted to manage symptoms by yourself. Your doctor will also look at how you behave. They might be observing your speech or if you maintain eye contact. They will also test you on your reasoning and memory skills by asking questions, such as recalling brief lists and naming common shapes and objects.
If you are a victim of section 2 of Mental Health Act, the AMHP will assist and guide you throughout the assessment. You can bring a friend or a relative along to the appointment, or you can choose to have an advocate instead who can represent your interests and opinions. They could be professionals like lawyers or even charity workers.
Some people find it difficult to discuss their emotional well-being with healthcare professionals, especially if they've had negative experiences in the past. Some children do not realise that changes in their mood or behavior can be a cause of worry, and other families might not know who to for help. It is crucial that healthcare professionals are aware of the impact of previous negative experiences and work to build trust.
What should happen if I am unhappy 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. For more information, please see our guide on how to make a complaint.
It can be difficult for people who use mental healthcare services to keep their appointments. It is essential to try and be as open and honest as you can with the person conducting your assessment. If you do not then you could give the doctor an inaccurate impression of your condition, and this could impact the care you receive.
Mental illness can affect your mood and thinking. It can lead to problems with work, relationships and day-to-day activities. Depression, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia are all common disorders. You can get help for a mental illness from your doctor as well as your family and friends or by visiting a local NHS CAMHS.
The key to improving mental health is to get the right assessment and treatment. NHS England is working hard to ensure that everyone receives proper treatment at the right time. This includes reducing the time taken to get treatment and ensuring that the correct information is accessible to everyone who requires it. We are also making changes to the way we collect and share data to help with this.
We want all local mental health services to be able record and share data exactly the same way as other NHS organizations. This will improve safety and quality of the care. Our goal is that all providers have access to up-to-date and accurate information, in real-time regardless of where they are. This is part of the NHS's mission Data Saves Lives which aims at reducing the barriers to information sharing across the health and care system.
What should I do if need to seek a second opinion?
If you believe that the health professionals involved in your assessment do not take your concerns seriously, there are a few things you can do. You could ask the manager of your mental health service for a different professional to 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 offers a service called EIT, which will send an emergency response team 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, either by a medical professional or a different doctor. Your GP can also provide a second opinion. This is advisable when you're not sure about your diagnosis or treatment options or when the doctors aren't agreeing on the best option for you.
A study published in the American Journal of Medicine found that second opinions provide significant value, and only a fraction of the cost of a first opinion. The experts can provide new perspectives and provide information that could alter the course of a patient's treatment.
Another reason for seeking an additional opinion is that the original doctor or healthcare professional may have overlooked a possible cause or impact of your symptoms. This can be due to a variety of reasons including an incorrect diagnosis or a doctor who does not listen to your concerns.
At Dementech We can organize a private mental health evaluation for you with our psychiatrists. We offer 50-minute consultations and cooperate with the majority of the major private insurance companies to ensure that psychiatric services are covered. If you do not have health insurance, we can still offer excellent treatment at a cost-effective price.
What should I do if need a second opinion from a specialist?
If you are unhappy with the results of your mental health evaluation and you want to seek a second opinion, it's possible to arrange this. It's not a legal right, but doctors are usually willing to make it happen. You can request your GP or the mental health services to make this happen. They should be able to provide you information about local advocacy services.
The specialist will examine and may perform additional tests, such as blood tests or an X-ray. The specialist will discuss their findings with you as well as the options for treatment. This could include medications, hospitalization or other options. The doctor should consider your age, gender, social background, sexual orientation, religion, disability and religious beliefs when talking with you.
A second opinion can be useful as it allows you examine the advice of different experts and to get an entirely new perspective on your health situation. It can make you feel more confident regarding your treatment options and diagnosis and also provide you more details on the possible side consequences of each option.
There could be a compelling reason to seek to get a second 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 might have read about treatments that your provider doesn't offer and want to know if these are safe for you.
A private Psychiatrist is able to see you within a couple of days and have access to your complete health record. They can also schedule an appointment via video on Skype, Facetime or a phone call, and then send the medical report directly to your GP.