Mental Health Assessment - What Happens If You Are Unhappy With Your Mental Health Assessment?

If you are suffering from an issue with your mental health it is essential to seek out help. Mental illness is as serious as physical illness.

Everyone should be treated with dignity and respect regardless of gender, age or ethnicity. APP recognizes the need to fight discrimination.

What is a mental health assessment?

A mental health assessment is a process used to see how well an individual is functioning psychologically, socially, and in terms of development. It can also aid in diagnosing conditions like depression or neurological diseases such as dementia.

During an initial assessment the healthcare professional will interview the patient and observe them physically. They may also ask questions regarding their symptoms and the difficulties they've gone through. assess mental health will also test the person's ability to think and reason, as well as remember (cognitive function).

During an assessment, a variety of tests can be conducted. They could be formal and standardized, or informal and non-standardized. They could include a problem checklist, a memory test or self-report screening tools such as the GHQ or MMSE. These tools can be administered by a general practitioner or performed by mental health professionals.

Sometimes, laboratory tests are required to diagnose an illness. This may include blood or urine samples. The tests are generally not painful. The only discomfort is the injection of the blood sample which could feel like a small pinch or the sensation of stinging. In more serious cases the need for an MRI or EEG scan may be required.

It is crucial for a healthcare professional to have the most complete picture when conducting an assessment. This involves taking into consideration the patient's lifestyle, family history and their environment. This information is considered when deciding on the best treatment for the patient.

What should be done during an assessment in the field of mental health care

The assessment is a chance to let health professionals to listen and comprehend your situation. You should use this time to discuss your concerns and ask any questions you may have. You should also be given enough information on the various treatments, to allow you to make an informed decision.

The staff should greet you in a warm and welcoming manner with respect and empathy at the time of your arrival (NICE 2009b). A comfortable waiting area should be available to those who wish to wait in a private space or with others.

In the course of the mental exam the doctor will ask you about your thoughts and feelings, how they affect your daily life, and whether or not you've tried to manage your symptoms by yourself. Your doctor will also watch the way you behave. For example, they may look at how you speak and when you make eye contact. They will also test your reasoning and memory abilities by asking you simple questions like recalling short lists and naming common shapes and objects.

If you fall under section 2 of the Mental Health Act, the AMHP will assist and guide you through the assessment. You can bring a friend or relative with you to your assessment or opt to use an advocate who can represent your interests and views. They can be professionals, such as lawyers or even charity workers.

Some people find it difficult to talk about their mental health issues with health professionals, particularly if they have had previous negative experiences. Some children do not realise that changes in their mood or behaviour are a cause for worry, and other families might not know who to turn to for help. It is crucial that all healthcare professionals are aware of the consequences of previous poor experiences and that they are able 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 are not satisfied with the results you may make an appeal to the CQC. For more details, read our guide on how to file an appeal.

People who use mental health services usually have multiple appointments with a variety of specialists and may find it difficult to keep track of them all. It is important to be as honest and open as you can to the person who is assessing you. If you are not then the professional could have a different view of your performance and this can affect your treatment.

Mental illness can affect your mood and thinking. It can cause problems with work, relationships, and daily activities. Some common conditions include anxiety disorders, depression and schizophrenia. You can get help with mental illness by speaking to your doctor as well as your family and friends or visiting an NHS local CAMHS service.

The proper assessment and treatment is crucial to improving your mental health. NHS England is working hard to ensure everyone gets the appropriate treatment at the right time. This involves reducing delays and making sure that the correct information is accessible to everyone who requires it. We are also making changes to the method we record and share data to help with this.

We want to see all local mental health services be able collect and share data similar to other NHS organizations. This will improve safety and the quality of the care. We want all providers to have access to accurate and current information in real-time, wherever they are. This is part of the NHS's commitment to Data Saves Lives, which is designed to remove the barriers to a more efficient sharing of data across the health and social care systems.

What should happen if I want an additional opinion?

If you believe that the health professionals involved in your assessment aren't taking your opinion seriously, there are a few things you can do. You can ask the manager of your mental health care to have a different doctor review the case with you, or contact one of the NHS helplines for assistance in your region. If you live in England the NHS offers a service called EIT (Emergency Intervention Team) that can send an emergency response team to your home. You can also contact local volunteer groups, or charities like Mind or Rethink for advice.

You may decide to seek an additional opinion from a different medical professional or doctor, or even your GP. You should do this in the event that you aren't sure of your diagnosis or treatment options or in the event that your doctors disagree on the best treatment option.

A study published in American Journal of Medicine found second opinions to be of significant value and costing only a fraction of what the initial opinion would have cost. The reason for this is that experts are able to provide new perspectives and more information that could alter the direction of a patient's treatment.

Another reason for seeking a second opinion is that your initial doctor or healthcare professional may have missed a possible cause or effect of your symptoms. This can happen for a number of reasons, including misdiagnosis or simply not paying attention carefully to your story.

Dementech can arrange for an individual mental assessment with one of our psychiatrists. We provide standard consultations of 50 minutes, and we work with a variety of major private insurance providers to ensure that your treatment for psychiatric issues is covered. If you don't 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?

If you are unhappy with the results of your mental health assessment and would like a second opinion, it's possible to request this. There is no legal right to do this, but doctors will rarely refuse to make it happen for you. You can ask your GP or the mental health services to make this happen. They will be able to provide you the contact information for local advocacy services.

The doctor will evaluate you and may perform further tests, including blood tests and a radiograph. They will then talk with you about their findings and talk about the options for treatment. This could include hospitalization, or other options. When discussing your case, the doctor should consider your gender, age, and social background, as in addition to your sexual orientation and disability, as well as your religion as well as your religious or cultural beliefs, and your sexual orientation.

A second opinion is beneficial because it lets you examine the advice of different experts and to get a new perspective on your healthcare situation. It will make you feel more comfortable about your treatment options and diagnosis and can also give you more details on the potential side effects of each option.


There could be a compelling reason to seek another opinion. You might be concerned that you suffer from an unusual or rare illness and you'd like to have an opinion from a medical professional regarding your diagnosis and treatment options. Perhaps you've seen other treatments your provider doesn't offer and you want to know whether they are safe for you.

A private Psychiatrist can usually see you within a few days and can access your complete health record. They can also schedule an online video consultation using Skype or Facetime and medical reports to be sent directly to your GP.