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

If you have a mental health problem it is essential to seek out help. Mental illness can be as severe as physical disease.

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

What is a Mental Health Assessment?

A mental health assessment is a test that determines how people are functioning psychologically, socially, and developmental. It can also help diagnose disorders like depression or neurological diseases such as dementia.

In an initial evaluation the healthcare professional will interview the patient and observe them physically. They may ask about the patient's health issues and what has been happening. They also will assess how the person thinks, reasons and remembers (cognitive functioning).

When assessing there are a variety of tests that are conducted. They can be formal, standardized tests or informal tests that are not standardized. These tools could include a list of issues, a memory check or self-report screening tool like the GHQ or MMSE. These tools can be administered by a general physician or performed by mental health professionals.

Sometimes, patients will require tests in the lab to determine if they have a problem. This may include blood or urine samples. Usually, these tests are not painful. The only discomfort could be the injection of the blood sample which could feel like a slight pinch or itching. In more serious cases the need for an MRI or EEG scan may be required.

It is important for a healthcare professional to have the most complete picture when they conduct an assessment. This involves taking into consideration the patient's lifestyle, family history, and environment. This information will be taken into consideration when deciding on the ideal course of treatment for the patient.

What should be done during an assessment for mental health services

The exam should be an opportunity for healthcare professionals to be attentive and understand the situation for you. It is crucial to make use of this opportunity to talk about your concerns and ask questions. You should also be given enough information about different treatments, so that you are able to make an informed choice.

The staff should greet you with a warm and welcoming manner with respect and empathy, upon arrival (NICE 2009b). Anyone who wants to wait on their own or in a group should have a comfortable waiting space.

During the mental assessment, your doctor may ask you questions about your thoughts and feelings and how they affect your daily routine, and if you have tried to manage symptoms by yourself. Your doctor will also watch how you act. They may observe how you speak or if you keep eye contact. They may also test your reasoning and memory abilities by asking you simple questions, such as recalling brief lists and naming common shapes and objects.


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

Some people find it difficult to discuss their mental health issues with health professionals, particularly if they have had previous negative experiences. Children may not realize that changes in their moods or behaviour are cause for worry. Other families may not know where they can turn for assistance. It is crucial 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'm not happy with the assessment?

If you are unhappy with the assessment you received under the Mental Health Act, you may file a complaint to the CQC. For more details, see our guide on how to file an appeal.

People who utilize mental health services often have a lot of different appointments with a range of specialists and may find it difficult to keep track of them all. It is important to be as honest and transparent as possible with the person who is evaluating your condition. If you don't honest, the professional could be able to get a false impression of your performance and this could impact your treatment.

Mental illness can affect your mood and mental thinking. It can lead to difficulties in relationships, work, and even everyday activities. Common conditions include anxiety disorders, depression and schizophrenia. You can get help for a mental illness by talking to your GP or family members and friends, or visiting the nearest NHS CAMHS service.

The most important factor in improving mental health is getting the appropriate assessment and treatment. NHS England works hard to make sure everyone receives the proper treatment at the right time. This involves reducing delays and making sure that the correct information is accessible to all who require it. To support this, we are also changing the way that we store and share information.

We would like all local mental health services to be able to record and share data in the same manner as other NHS organisations. This will improve the quality and safety of care. Our aim is to ensure that all providers have access to accurate and up-to-date 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 efficient sharing of information across the health and social care systems.

What should I do if want an additional opinion?

You may take action if you feel that health experts involved in the assessment of your case don't take your concerns seriously. You could ask the manager of your mental health services for a different specialist to review the case with you, or you could contact one of the NHS helplines for support in your area. If how to get a mental health assessment Links to an external site. reside in England and have a problem, the NHS has a service known as EIT (Emergency Intervention Team) that can send a crisis response team out to your home. You can also contact local volunteer groups or charities such as Mind or Rethink for advice.

You might want to seek an additional opinion, either by a medical professional or a different doctor. Your GP is also able to offer an additional opinion. This is advisable when you're not sure about your diagnosis or treatment options or if the doctors disagree about the best option for you.

A study published in the American Journal of Medicine found that second opinions can provide significant value, with only a fraction of the cost of a first opinion. The reason for this is that experts can provide new perspectives and more information that can alter the direction of a patient's treatment.

Another reason to seek a second opinion is that the initial doctor or healthcare professional might have overlooked a possible cause or effect of your symptoms. This can be due to various reasons, such as misdiagnosis or simply not paying attention carefully to your story.

Dementech can arrange for an individual mental assessment with one of our psychiatrists. We offer 50-minute consultations. work with the majority of the major private insurance companies to ensure that psychiatric services are covered. If you don't have health insurance, we can still provide top-quality care 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 to seek a second opinion, it should be possible to get this. It's not an official right, but doctors are usually willing to help. You can contact the mental health services or your GP to arrange this. They will be able to provide you the contact details for local advocacy services.

The doctor will evaluate and possibly conduct further tests such as blood tests and X-rays. They will then talk with you about the results and discuss the options available for treatment. This might include medication, hospitalization or other options. The doctor should consider your gender, age social background, your social background, religious beliefs, sexual orientation and disability as well as religious beliefs when speaking with you.

A second opinion is beneficial as it allows you review the advice of various experts and to get an unbiased view of your medical situation. It can make you feel more comfortable regarding your diagnosis and treatment options and it can also give you more details about the potential side consequences of each option.

There could be a strong reason for wanting an additional opinion. For example, you might suspect that you have a rare or unusual illness and you want another specialist to evaluate the diagnosis and treatment options. You may have read about treatments your doctor does not provide and you want to know if these are safe for you.

A private Psychiatrist should be able to visit you within a few days and will typically have access to your medical records. They can also arrange for an online video consultation through Skype or Facetime and a medical report to be directly sent to your GP.