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

If you have mental health issues, it is important to seek help. Mental illness can be as serious as physical illness.

Everyone should be treated with respect and dignity regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, religion or social, cultural or political background. APP recognises the need to fight discrimination.

What is an assessment of mental health?

A mental health assessment is a process that is used to determine how one is functioning psychologically socially and developmentally. It can also help diagnose disorders like depression or neurological diseases like dementia.

A healthcare professional will interview the patient and assess their physical condition during the initial assessment. They may inquire about the patient's health issues and what's been occurring. They will also test the person's ability to think and reason, as well as remember (cognitive function).

During an assessment there are a variety of tests that can be conducted. They could be formal and standardized or informal and non-standardized. They could include a checklist of problems and a memory test or self report screening tool like the GHQ or MMSE. These tools can be administered by a general practitioner, or they can be administered by a mental health professional.

Sometimes, lab tests are necessary to diagnose the presence of a disease. This may include blood or urine samples. Usually the tests aren't painful. The only discomfort may be the injection of the blood sample, that could feel like a small pinch or the sensation of stinging. In more serious cases, an MRI or EEG scan might be required.

When a healthcare professional performs an examination, it is important that they have the most complete picture. This involves taking into consideration the patient's lifestyle, family history, and the environment. This information is considered when deciding on the ideal treatment option for the patient.

What happens during an assessment at mental health services?

The exam should be a time for health professionals to be attentive and understand what is happening to you. It is advisable to use this opportunity to voice your concerns and ask any questions you might have. You should be well-informed about the different treatments to make an educated decision.

initial mental health assessment should be welcomed with a warm, welcoming and understanding manner by the staff upon arrival (NICE 2009b). A comfortable waiting area should be provided for those who wish to wait in a private space or with others.

In the course of the mental exam, your doctor will ask you about your thoughts and feelings, how they affect your daily life, and whether or not you've attempted to manage your symptoms on your own. Your doctor will also look at your behavior. For example, they may look at how you speak and if you make eye contact. They can also test your memory and ability to reason by asking you questions that are simple such as recalling lists of short sentences or the names of common shapes and objects.

If you fall under section 2 of Mental Health Act, the AMHP will assist and guide you throughout the assessment. You may bring a friend or family member along to your assessment, or you can choose to have an advocate who can represent your interests and opinions. They can be professionals such as lawyers or charity workers.

Some people find it difficult to discuss their mental health with healthcare professionals, particularly if they've had negative experiences in the past. Some children do not realise that changes in their moods and behaviour are a cause for anxiety, whereas others might not know who to for assistance. It is essential that healthcare professionals are aware of the impact of previous poor experiences and that they work hard to establish a trusting relationship.

What should I do if I'm not happy with the assessment?

If you've been assessed under the Mental Health Act and you are not satisfied with the results you can file a complaint to the CQC. See our guide on making a complaint for more information.

People who use mental health services typically have multiple appointments with a range of professionals and may find it difficult to keep track of all the appointments. It is essential to be as honest and open as you can with the professional who is assessing you. If you are not, the professional may have a different view of what you're doing and this could affect the care you receive.

A mental illness is a condition that may alter your mood, thoughts and behaviour. It can lead to problems with work, relationships and day-to-day activities. The most common disorders are anxiety disorders, depression and schizophrenia. You can seek help for a mental illness by talking to your GP or family members and friends, or visiting a local NHS CAMHS service.

The key to improving mental health is to get the right diagnosis and treatment. NHS England works hard to ensure that everyone receives appropriate treatment at the right time. This involves reducing delays and ensuring that the right information is available to everyone who needs it. We are also making adjustments to the way we record and share data to help with this.

We would like all local mental health services to be able record and share data exactly the same way as other NHS organizations. This will enhance safety and quality of the care. We want all healthcare providers to have access accurate and current data 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 effective sharing of data across the health and social care system.

What should happen if I would like to get a second opinion?

You are able to decide to take action if you think that health professionals involved in the assessment of your case do not take your concerns seriously. You can ask the supervisor of your mental health services to have a different doctor review the case with you, or you could call one of the NHS helplines for support in your region. If you live in England the NHS has a service called EIT (Emergency Intervention Team) that can send an emergency response team to your home. You can also contact local voluntary groups or charities such as Mind or Rethink for advice.

You may want to get a second opinion, either by a medical professional or another physician. Your GP can also provide an alternative opinion. This is a good option in case you are uncertain about your diagnosis or treatment options or if there's a disagreement between the doctors on the best option for you.

A study published in the American Journal of Medicine found that second opinions can provide significant value, and only a portion of the cost of the first opinion. Experts can offer new perspectives and information that could alter the course of the patient's treatment.

Another reason to seek another opinion is that the initial doctor or healthcare professional may have overlooked a possible reason or cause for your symptoms. This can happen for a number of reasons, such as misdiagnosis or simply not taking the time to listen carefully to your story.

At Dementech We can organize a private mental health evaluation for you with our psychiatrists. We offer 50-minute consultations and work 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 reasonable cost.

What do I do if require an additional opinion from a specialist?

If you are dissatisfied with the results of your mental health evaluation and you want to seek a second opinion, it should be possible to get this. There is no legal right to this however, doctors are very unlikely to refuse to do it for you. You can request your GP or the mental health services to make it happen. They should be able give you information about local advocacy services.

The specialist will examine and possibly conduct further tests such as blood tests and an X-ray. The specialist will discuss the results with you and the options for treatment. This could include medications, hospitalization or other options. When discussing your case, the doctor should take into account your gender, age, gender and social background, as along with your sexual preference or disability, religion and religious beliefs, cultural or traditional and your sexual preference.

A second opinion can be beneficial as it allows you to review medical advice and gain an updated view of your health situation from a different doctor. It will give you more confidence in your diagnosis and treatment options, and can also provide you with more information about potential side effects.

You might have a very compelling reason to seek a second opinion. For example, you might suspect that you have a rare or unusual illness and want a different doctor to assess your diagnosis and treatment options. Or maybe you have seen other treatments your provider doesn't offer and you want to know whether they're safe for you.


A private Psychiatrist will typically be able to consult with you within several days and will usually have access to your medical records. They can also schedule video consultations via Skype, Facetime or a phone call, and then send a medical report directly to your GP.