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 essential to seek assistance. Mental illness can be as severe as physical disease.
Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of gender, age or ethnicity, religious belief, political, social or cultural background. APP recognizes 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 diagnose conditions such as depression and neurological diseases such as dementia.
A healthcare professional will interview the patient and observe their physical state during the initial assessment. They may inquire about the patient's symptoms and what has been happening. They also will assess the way the person thinks, reasons and remembers (cognitive functioning).
During an assessment there are a variety of tests that can be administered. These can be formal and standardized, or informal and non-standardized. These tools may include a checklist of problems, a memory check or self report screening tool like the GHQ or MMSE. These tools can be administered by a general physician, or they can be done by mental health professionals.
Sometimes, lab tests are required to diagnose a disorder. These tests can include urine or blood samples. Most of the time these tests aren't painful. The only discomfort could be caused by the injection of blood, that may be felt as a small pinch or the sensation of stinging. In more serious instances the need for an MRI scan or EEG could be required.
When a healthcare professional performs an examination, it is essential that they present the most complete picture. This means taking into account the patient's family history and lifestyle as well as the environment in which they live. This information will be taken into consideration when deciding on the ideal treatment option for the patient.
What happens during an assessment at mental health services?
The assessment is a chance for healthcare professionals to be attentive and understand what is going on for you. It is advisable to use this opportunity to discuss your concerns and ask any questions you might have. You must be aware about the various treatment options to make an educated decision.
Staff should greet you in a warm and welcoming manner, with empathy and respect, upon arrival (NICE 2009b). A comfortable waiting area should be provided to those who prefer to wait on their own or with others.
During the mental evaluation the doctor will ask you about your thoughts and feelings, how they affect your daily routine and whether or not you've tried to manage your symptoms on your own. assess mental health will also watch how you act. They might examine your speech patterns or if you keep eye contact. They may also test your memory and ability to think by asking you simple questions such as recalling short lists or naming common objects and shapes.
If you fall under section 2 of the Mental Health Act, your AMHP will support and guide you throughout the process of assessing you. You can bring a friend or family member along to the appointment or opt to have an advocate, who can represent your views and interests. They can be volunteers, such as charity workers or professionals such as lawyers.
Some people find it hard to discuss their emotional well-being with healthcare professionals, particularly in the event of negative experiences in the past. Some children aren't aware that changes in their moods and behavior can be a cause of worry, and others may not know who to for assistance. It is essential that all healthcare professionals are aware of the effects of previous poor experiences and that they are able to build a trusting relationship.
What should I do if I am not satisfied with the assessment?
If you are unhappy with the diagnosis you received under the Mental Health Act, you can file a complaint with the CQC. For more information, please see our guide on how to make a complaint.
It can be a challenge for people who use mental healthcare services to keep their appointments. It is important to be as open and honest as you can to the person doing your assessment. If you are not honest, the professional could have a different view of what you're doing and this could affect your care.
Mental illness can influence your mood and thoughts. It can cause problems with relationships, work and daily activities. Depression anxiety disorders, depression, and schizophrenia are all common ailments. You can get help for a mental illness by talking to your doctor, family and friends or visiting the nearest NHS CAMHS service.
The key to improving mental health is getting the appropriate assessment and treatment. NHS England works hard to ensure that everyone receives the right treatment at just the right time. This includes reducing the time taken to get treatment and ensuring that the right information is available to anyone who needs it. To support this, we are changing the way that we store and share information.
We want to ensure that all local mental health services able to record and share data similar to 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, no matter where they are. This is part of the NHS's commitment to Data Saves Lives, which seeks to eliminate the barriers to a more efficient sharing of data across the health and social care system.
What should I do if need to seek a second opinion?
You are able to take action if you believe that health professionals involved in the assessment of your situation do not consider your opinion seriously. You can ask the manager of your mental health care for a different specialist to review the case with you, or you could call one of the NHS helplines for assistance in your region. If you live in England and have a problem, 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 groups of volunteers or charities, such as Mind or Rethink.
You could decide to get an opinion from a different medical professional or doctor, or even from your GP. It is recommended to do this if you're unsure of your diagnosis or treatment options or in the event that your doctors disagree on the best treatment option.
A study published in the American Journal of Medicine found that second opinions can provide significant value and are only a tiny fraction of the cost of the first opinion. The reason for this is that experts are able to provide new perspectives and additional information that can change the course of a patient's care.
Another reason to seek an additional opinion is that the initial doctor or healthcare professional may have missed a potential reason or cause for your symptoms. This could be due to a variety of causes like an incorrect diagnosis or a doctor who isn't listening to your story.
At Dementech we can arrange a private mental health assessment for you with our psychiatrists. We offer standard consultations lasting 50 minutes, and we work with a variety of major private insurance companies to ensure that your treatment for psychiatric issues is covered. If, however, you do not have insurance, we are capable of providing excellent and affordable care.
What should happen if I require a second opinion from a specialist?
If you are unhappy with the results of your mental health assessment and would like a second opinion, it should be possible to request this. There is no legal right to it, but doctors will rarely refuse to arrange it for you. You can request the mental health service or your GP to arrange this. They should be able to give you the details of local advocacy services.
The doctor will examine you and may do further tests, including blood tests and a X-ray. They will then inform you about their findings and talk about the options for treatment. This could include medications or hospitalization, as well as other options. When talking to you, the doctor should take into consideration your age, gender and social background, as well as your sexual orientation or disability, religion as well as your religious or cultural beliefs and your sexual preference.
A second opinion is beneficial because it allows you to compare medical advice from different experts and gain a new perspective on your healthcare situation. It will give you more confidence in your diagnosis and treatment options and provide more information on possible adverse effects.
You may have a very good reason to want an additional opinion. You might be worried that you have an unusual or rare disease and would like to get a second opinion from a specialist on your diagnosis and possible treatment options. You may have heard about treatments your doctor does not provide and you are interested in knowing if they are safe for you.
A private Psychiatrist should be able to visit you within several days and will normally have access to all your health records. They can also arrange for an online video consultation via Skype or Facetime and an official medical report to be directly sent to your GP.