This Week's Most Remarkable Stories About Mental Health Assessment Mental Health Assessment
Mental Health Assessment – What Happens If You Are Unhappy With Your Mental Health Assessment? If you are suffering from a mental health problem, 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 gender, age 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 a process that is used to determine how one is functioning psychologically socially and developmentalally. It can also be used to diagnose conditions such as depression and neurological diseases such as dementia. In the initial assessment an 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. They also assess the person's ability to think, reason and remember (cognitive function). During an assessment, a variety of tests can be conducted. They could be formal standardized tests or informal tests that are not standardized. They may include a problem checklist, a memory test or self-reporting screening tools such as the GHQ or MMSE. These tools can be administered by general practitioners or mental health professionals. Sometimes, lab tests are necessary to diagnose a disorder. This could include blood or urine samples. These tests are typically not painful. The only discomfort could be the injection of the blood sample, that could feel like a slight pinch or itching. In more serious instances it is possible that an MRI scan or EEG may be needed. It is crucial for healthcare professionals to have the most complete picture when conducting an assessment. This involves taking into consideration the patient's family history, lifestyle, and the environment they reside in. This information is taken into consideration when deciding on the most appropriate treatment for the patient. What should happen during an assessment at a mental health facility? The evaluation will let health professionals to listen and comprehend your situation. It is important that you use this opportunity to discuss your concerns and ask questions. You should also receive enough information about different treatments, to allow you to make an informed decision. Staff should greet you in a warm and welcoming manner with respect and empathy when you arrive (NICE 2009b). A comfortable waiting area should be provided for use by people who prefer to wait on their own or with others. In the course of your mental health assessment, your doctor may ask you questions regarding your thoughts and feelings and how they affect your daily life, and if you've tried to manage symptoms on your own. Your doctor will also be observing how you behave. They might be able to be observing your speech or if you maintain eye contact. They may also test your memory and ability to reason by asking you questions that are simple, like recalling short lists or naming common objects and shapes. If you are a victim of section 2 of Mental Health Act, the AMHP will guide and support you throughout the assessment. You can bring a friend or family member along to your assessment, or you can choose to have an advocate, who can represent your views and interests. They could be volunteers, like charity workers or professionals, such as lawyers. Some people have difficulty to talk about their mental health issues with health professionals, particularly in the case of previous negative experiences. Some children do not realise that changes in their mood or behaviour are a cause for concern, while others may not know who to for assistance. It is crucial that all healthcare professionals comprehend the impact of previous negative experiences and work to build trust. What should I do if I am not satisfied with the evaluation? If you've been referred to under the Mental Health Act and you are not satisfied with the results you can file a complaint to the CQC. For more information, see our guide on how to make a complaint. It can be difficult for people who use mental healthcare services to keep the track of all appointments. It is essential to be as honest and transparent as possible with the person who is evaluating your condition. If you do not you could give the doctor wrong impressions of your condition, and this could impact the care you receive. Mental illness can affect your mood and mental thinking. It can cause problems with work, relationships and day-to-day activities. Common conditions include anxiety disorders, depression and schizophrenia. You can get help for a mental illness from your GP, friends and family or by visiting the nearest NHS CAMHS. The most important 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 wait times and ensuring the right information is accessible to everyone who requires it. To facilitate this, we are changing the way that we store and share information. mental health screening would like to see all local mental healthcare services be able keep and share information like other NHS organizations. This will increase the safety of patients and improve the quality of the care. Our aim is that all providers have access to up-to-date and accurate data, in real time regardless of where 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 system. What should I do if would like to get a second opinion? If you feel that the health professionals who participated in your assessment do not take your concerns seriously, there are some things you can do. You can request your manager to send another expert to review your case or contact an NHS helpline in your area to get help. If you reside in England, the NHS has a service known as EIT (Emergency Intervention Team) that will send an emergency response team to your home. You can also seek assistance from local volunteer groups or charities, like Mind or Rethink. It is possible to seek an additional opinion, either from a medical specialist or another doctor. Your GP can also offer an additional opinion. It is recommended to do this when you're not sure about your diagnosis or treatment options, or in the event that your doctors disagree on the best option for you. A study published in the American Journal of Medicine found that second opinions offer significant value, with only a tiny fraction of the cost of the first opinion. This is because experts are able to offer new perspectives and information that can alter the course of a patient's care. Another reason for seeking a second opinion is that your initial doctor or healthcare professional might have missed a possible cause or impact of your symptoms. This can be due to a variety of reasons, such as a mistaken diagnosis or a physician who doesn't listen to your story. Dementech can arrange for an appointment for a private mental evaluation with one of our psychiatrists. We offer standard consultations of 50 minutes, and we partner with most major private insurance companies to ensure that your mental health treatment is covered. If, however, you don't have insurance, we're capable of providing excellent and affordable treatment. What should happen if I need a second opinion from a specialist? If you are not satisfied with the results of your mental health assessment and would like an additional opinion, it's possible to arrange this. It's not an option that is legally protected however, most doctors are willing to make it happen. You can contact the mental health service or your GP to arrange this. They will be able to provide you the contact information for local advocacy services. The doctor will examine you and may do further tests, including blood tests and an X-ray. They will then inform you about their findings and talk about the options available for treatment. This could include medication or hospitalization as well as other options. When talking to you your doctor, the doctor must take into account your age, gender and social background as along with your sexual preference and disability, as well as your religion as well as your religious or cultural beliefs and your sexual orientation. A second opinion can be beneficial as it allows you to examine the advice of a medical professional and get an updated view of your health situation from a different physician. It will help you feel more comfortable regarding your treatment options and diagnosis and also provide you more details on the potential adverse consequences of each option. There may be a compelling reason to seek a second opinion. You may be worried that you have an unusual or rare condition and would like to get an opinion from a medical professional regarding the diagnosis and treatment options. Perhaps you've seen other treatments your physician doesn't recommend and you want to know whether they're safe for you. A private Psychiatrist can usually visit you within a couple of days and have access to your entire health history. They can also schedule video consultations via Skype, Facetime or a telephone call and send an official medical report directly to your GP.