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 can be as severe as physical ailments.
Everyone should be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of gender, age or race. APP recognises the need to combat discrimination.
What is an assessment of mental health?
A mental health assessment is an examination that is used to determine how one is functioning psychologically socially, and in terms of development. It can also help diagnose conditions like depression or neurological diseases like dementia.
A healthcare professional will interview the patient and observe their physical state during an initial assessment. They may also ask questions about their symptoms and what they've been going through. They also will assess the way the person thinks, makes decisions and remembers (cognitive functioning).
There are a variety of different tests that can be conducted during an assessment. These can be formal and standardized or informal and non-standardized. These tools could include a list of issues and a memory test or self report screening tool like the GHQ or MMSE. These tools can be administered by a general practitioner or done by a mental health professional.
Sometimes, patients will require laboratory tests to identify a condition. These tests may include blood or urine samples. Usually the tests aren't painful. The only discomfort could be caused by the injection of blood that may feel like a small pinch or sting. In more severe instances it is possible that an MRI scan or EEG may be needed.
It is essential for healthcare professionals to have the most complete picture when conducting an assessment. This includes taking into consideration the history of the patient's family, lifestyle, and the environment 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 of mental health services?
The examination is a chance to let health professionals to listen and comprehend your situation. You should use this time to voice your concerns and ask any questions you may have. You should also be given sufficient information regarding the various treatments, to allow you to make an informed decision.
It is important to be greeted with a warm, welcoming and compassionate manner by staff upon your arrival (NICE 2009b). Anyone who wants to sit in solitude or in a group should have a comfortable waiting space.
In the course of your mental health assessment the doctor will ask you questions about your thoughts and feelings and how they affect your daily life, and if you've tried to manage your symptoms by yourself. Your doctor will also be watching the way you behave. They may observe how you speak or if you keep eye contact. They can also test your memory and ability to think by asking you questions that are simple such as recalling short lists or the names of common shapes and objects.
If you fall under section 2 of the Mental Health Act, the AMHP will assist and guide you throughout the assessment. You can invite an individual or a friend to the appointment or opt to have an advocate from a professional represent your interests and opinions. They can be volunteers, like those who work for charities or professionals, like lawyers.
Some people find it hard to discuss their mental health with health professionals, especially in the event of negative experiences in the past. Some children do not realise that changes in their mood or behavior are cause for concern, while others might not know who to for help. It is important that healthcare professionals are aware of the consequences of previous poor experiences and that they are able to build a trusting relationship.
What should I do if not satisfied with the assessment?
If you've been assessed under the Mental Health Act and you aren't happy with it you can file an appeal to the CQC. Learn more about how to make a complaint for more information.
Patients who seek mental health services usually have multiple appointments with a variety of professionals and may find it difficult to keep track of all the appointments. It is essential to try and be as open and honest as you can with the person conducting your assessment. If you don't then you could give the doctor a false impression of your condition and this could impact your treatment.
Mental illness can affect your mood and thinking. It can cause problems with relationships, work and daily activities. Some common conditions include anxiety disorders, depression and schizophrenia. You can get help for a mental illness by talking to your doctor as well as your family and friends or visiting a local NHS CAMHS service.
The proper assessment and treatment is crucial 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 making sure that the correct information is accessible to everyone who requires it. To facilitate this, we are also changing the way we record and share information.
We want to see all local mental healthcare services be able keep and share information similar to other NHS organizations. This will improve safety and the quality of the care. Our goal is for all providers to have access to accurate and up-to-date data, in real time regardless of where they are. This is part the NHS's commitment to Data Saves Lives which aims at reducing the barriers to sharing information across the health and care system.
What should happen if I would like to get to get a second opinion?
If you feel that the health professionals involved in your assessment don't take your views seriously, there are a few things you can do. You can request your manager to send a different expert to review your situation or contact an NHS helpline in your area to get help. If you reside in England the NHS offers a service called EIT, which will send an emergency response team to your home. You can also seek help from local volunteer groups or charities, like Mind or Rethink.
It is possible to seek an additional opinion, either by a medical professional or another doctor. Your GP can also offer a second opinion. It is recommended to do this in the event that you aren't sure of your diagnosis or treatment options, or when the doctors aren't agreeing on the best option for you.
A study published in American Journal of Medicine found second opinions to be of significant value and costing less than what the first opinion would have cost. This is because the experts are able to provide new perspectives and additional information that can alter the course of care for a patient.
A second opinion may be required if your doctor or healthcare professional has not identified a cause for your symptoms. This can happen for various reasons, such as misdiagnosis or simply not paying attention carefully to your story.
At Dementech we can arrange a private health assessment 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 treatments are covered. If you do not have health insurance, we are able to offer excellent treatment at a cost-effective price.
What should happen if I require a second opinion from a specialist?
You can arrange an appointment for a second opinion if are dissatisfied with the mental health evaluation results. There is no legal right to do this, but doctors will rarely refuse to arrange it for you. You can ask the mental health services or your GP to arrange this. They should be able to give you the details of local advocacy services.
The doctor will look at and possibly perform further tests like blood tests and X-rays. They will then inform you about their findings and discuss the options available for treatment. This might include medication, a hospital stay or other options. The doctor will take into consideration your age, gender social background, your social background, sexual orientation, religion, disability and religious or cultural beliefs when speaking with you.
A second opinion is useful because it allows you to review medical advice and gain an updated view of your medical situation from a different expert. It can help you feel more comfortable regarding your treatment options and diagnosis and it can also give you more details on the potential adverse consequences of each option.
You may have a very justification to seek an additional opinion. You might be worried that you may have an unusual or rare condition and want an additional opinion from a specialist regarding the diagnosis and treatment options. You might have read about treatments your doctor does not offer and want to know if these are suitable for you.
A private Psychiatrist will usually see you within a few days and has access to your complete health record. private mental health assessment can also arrange for an online video consultation via Skype or Facetime and medical reports to be directly sent to your GP.