initial mental health assessment - What Happens If You Are Unhappy With Your Mental Health Assessment?
If you suffer from an issue with your mental health it is essential to seek help. Mental illness can be as severe as physical ailments.
Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity regardless of age, gender or ethnicity. APP recognizes the need to fight discrimination.
What is a Mental Health Assessment?
A mental health evaluation is an assessment that determines how people are functioning psychologically, socially, and developmental. It can also be used to identify conditions like depression or neurological diseases like dementia.
In an initial evaluation the healthcare professional will sit down with a patient and observe them physically. They may ask about the patient's symptoms as well as what's occurring. They also will assess how the person thinks, makes decisions and remembers (cognitive functioning).
When assessing, a variety of tests are conducted. They can be formal and standardized, or informal and non-standardized. These tools may include a list of issues and a memory test or a self report screening tool like the GHQ or MMSE. These tools can be administered by a general practitioner or performed by a mental health professional.
Sometimes, laboratory tests are needed to determine the presence of a disease. This could include blood or urine samples. Most often these tests aren't painful. The only discomfort is the injection of the blood sample that could feel like a slight pinch or the sensation of stinging. In more serious cases, an MRI or EEG scan might be required.
When a healthcare professional conducts an assessment, it's crucial that they have the most complete picture. This involves taking into consideration the patient's lifestyle, family history, and environment. This information is taken into consideration when deciding on the most appropriate treatment for the patient.
What should be done during an assessment of mental health services?
The exam should be an opportunity for healthcare professionals to be attentive and understand the situation for you. It is important to use this time to express your concerns and ask any questions you have. You should also be given enough information about different treatments, so that you are able to make an informed decision.
You should be welcomed in a warm, friendly, empathic and respectful manner by staff on arrival (NICE 2009b). A comfortable waiting area should be provided for 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 and how they affect your daily life, and if you've attempted to manage your symptoms by yourself. Your doctor will also watch how you act. They might be observing your speech or if you keep eye contact. They will also test your reasoning and memory skills by asking simple questions, such as recalling brief lists and naming common shapes and objects.
If you are a victim of section 2 of the Mental Health Act, the AMHP will help and guide you through the process of assessing. You may bring a friend or family member along to the appointment, or you can choose to use an advocate who can 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 well-being with healthcare professionals, especially if they've had negative experiences in the past. Many children are unaware that changes in their mood or behaviour could be reason for concern. Other families may not know where to go for assistance. It is essential that all healthcare professionals comprehend the impact of previous negative experiences and work hard to establish trust.
What should I do if am unhappy with the assessment?
If you've been assessed under the Mental Health Act and you aren't happy with it you can file a complaint to the CQC. For more information, follow our guide on how to make an appeal.
People who utilize mental health services typically have multiple appointments with a variety of specialists and may find it difficult to keep track of all the appointments. It is important to be as open and honest as you can to the person who is assessing your condition. If you don't, the professional may be able to get a false impression of your performance and this could affect your treatment.
A mental illness is a condition that may alter your mood, thoughts and behavior. It can cause problems with work, relationships, and daily activities. The most common disorders are depression, anxiety disorders and schizophrenia. You can get help with mental illness by speaking to your GP or family members and friends, or visiting a local NHS CAMHS service.
The main factor in improving mental health is receiving the right diagnosis and treatment. NHS England works hard to ensure that everyone receives right treatment at just the right time. This includes reducing the time taken to get treatment and ensuring that the correct information is readily available to anyone who requires it. To facilitate this, we are changing the way that we store and share information.
We want all local mental health services to be able to record and share data in the same manner as other NHS organizations. This will improve the quality and safety of treatment. We want all healthcare providers to have access to accurate and current information in real-time, wherever they are. This is part the NHS's mission Data Saves Lives which aims to eliminate the obstacles to information sharing across the health and healthcare system.
What do I do if require a second opinion on something?
You are able to take action if you believe that health experts involved in the assessment of your case do not consider your opinion seriously. You can ask the supervisor of your mental health services for a different professional to review the case with you, or call one of the NHS helplines for assistance in your region. If you reside in England the NHS offers a service called EIT which sends out a crisis response team to your home. You can also seek assistance from local voluntary groups or charities, like Mind or Rethink.
You could decide to get an additional opinion from a different medical professional or doctor or even from your GP. You should do this when you're not sure about your diagnosis or treatment options, or if the doctors disagree about the best option for you.
A study published in the American Journal of Medicine found second opinions to be of substantial value and cost less than what the first opinion would have cost. The reason for this is that experts can provide new perspectives and additional information that can alter the direction of a patient's treatment.
Another reason to seek a second opinion is that the initial doctor or healthcare professional might have missed a possible cause or effect of your symptoms. This can be due to a variety reasons including a mistaken diagnosis or a physician who isn't listening to your concerns.
Dementech can arrange an individual mental assessment with one of our psychiatrists. We offer 50-minute consultations. work with the majority of major private insurance companies to ensure that psychiatric treatments are covered. However, if you don't have insurance, we're in a position to provide top quality and affordable care.
What should I do if need an opinion from a specialist?
You should be able to arrange an appointment for a second opinion if are dissatisfied with the mental health evaluation results. You don't have a legal right to it however, doctors will often refuse to arrange it for you. You can request your GP or the mental health services to make this happen. They should be able give you information on local advocacy services.
The doctor will evaluate and may perform additional tests like blood tests and an X-ray. They will then talk with you about their findings and discuss your options for treatment. This could involve medication or hospitalization, as well as other options. When talking to you your doctor, the doctor must consider your gender, age, and social background, as in addition to your sexual orientation or disability, religion as well as your religious or cultural beliefs and your sexual preference.
A second opinion is beneficial as it allows you compare medical advice from different experts and gain a new perspective on your healthcare situation. It can give you more confidence in your diagnosis and treatment options and also provide you with more information about potential adverse effects.
There could be a compelling reason to seek an additional opinion. For example, you might think you may have an unusual or rare illness and you want another specialist to assess your diagnosis and treatment options. You might have read about treatments that your doctor does not provide and you want to know if these are safe for you.
A private Psychiatrist can usually meet with you within a few days and have access to your entire health history. They can also arrange for an online video consultation using Skype or Facetime and an official medical report to be sent directly to your GP.