Mental Health Assessment Form: Get Your Health Newsletters

Telephone calls are recorded but for training purposes only.

If you prefer to remain completely anonymous you might look for to withhold your number before calling.

Might use this if among the situations listed above comes us, if you contact us by phone we might be able to see your phone number. Alternatively, your GPcan arrange this,but they may have to contact yourlocal clinical commissioning group, that will so decide whether they willpay for an independent opinion. Some specialist services are specially funded for such referrals -they usually have information on their websites about this. Your review should take place in a familiar place. Often That’s a fact, it’s the clinic, community mental health centre or GP surgerywhere you meet your care co ordinator regularly. It should be possible for it take placeat your house or in a neutral place, like a community centre. You can ask for a specialist second opinion on the NHS. Others don’t and a specialist will then have to be found elsewhere, some mental health trusts do offer specialist services. However, specialist services are usually focused on one condition or problem, particularly where that condition is complex or severe.

That said, this shouldn’t stop you asking for one if you feelstrongly about it, even if getting a second opinion could have been a difficult step that takes time.

Explain why you feel you need a second opinion.

Ask again, I’d say in case your GP disagrees or refuses to pass on your request. Include examples just like. Clinical commissioning groups are in charge of thefunding for your local NHS and decide where the moneyshould bespent. You could contact the CCGdirectly, if your GP tells you that your request had been refused as the CCG isn’t funding it. From a specialist mood disorders or psychosis service your psychiatrist may agree to this and take steps to arrange it, if you seek for an independent opinion from outside your current mental health servicefor example. You can alsoask the mental health professional,your GP oryour care coordinator if they can arrangefor a second opinion for you.Local voluntary groups and charities just like MIND or Rethinkoffer additional advice.

Your care ‘coordinator’ should ensureyouhave regular reviews, and might be your first point of contact if you have concerns. Your care co ordinator will also might be seen bya nurse, social worker, psychologist, specialist pharmacist,psychiatrist or a combination of these and similar professionals. Wherever you pick help, you will get a detailed assessment. Have you heard about something like that before? The purpose of an assessment is to build up an accurate picture of your needs.Different professionals and agencies provide a range of services, that meansyour initial assessment may involveoneor moreprofessionals. That said, this can be a nurse, social worker, occupational therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist, or an employment specialist.

I know it’s important your treatment is reviewed on a regular basis, your personal needs may change over time. You will always be allocated a named person as your care ‘co ordinator’. Alternatively,check with your local council who your advocacy provider is. Rethink also offers an online directory for advocacy services in England on their website. Therefore an advocate is someone who will represent your views and interests throughout the review process. Certainly, you can always arrange to bring a friend or relative to a review for support. Advocates can be volunteers, like mental health charity workers, or professionals, similar to lawyers. Your care co ordinator should tell you what advocacy services are available in your local area. So many individuals prefer to bring an advocate to their review. Usually, your GP may also be able to assist you. Ask the manager of your mental health service to see someone different, including alternative psychiatrist or care ‘coordinator’, I’d say if you don’t feel that your concerns are taken seriously. Let the health professional explain it to you until you are sure you understand it If you feel that the treatment or mental health service is not working for you, you must say something.

Talk to the mental health professional you are seeing about your concerns.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions about things you find unclear.

Make look for to discuss and tick any point off during your appointment, before your appointment. It can be that another approachora new assessmentis required in order to find a more suitable service for you. So, you can always bring a friend or family member to an appointment to support you. Known you only have to talk about what you need to talk about. Therefore in case you are not ready to discuss don’t really have to, it helps to be frank and open. Find contact details for your local NHS trust. On p of that, most NHS trusts have arrangements in place for second opinion requests and, where possible,will work with youso you cansee anothermental health professional.

You can ask for a second opinion, I’d say in case you are not sure about a diagnosis or treatment suggested to you.

You’d better also be involved in thedecision making about what treatments are best for you, and youshould alsobe given information you can take home,as well astipsfor additional research.

Actually the outcome of the assessment going to be discussed with you. As a rule of a thumb, have the opportunity to ask any questions about your condition,the diagnosis, possible causes,anytreatments on offer, and how those may impact on your life. Nevertheless, including circumstances where you are not in agreement with how your GP or current mental health team have responded to the recommendations of a second opinion, you can file an official complaint using the NHS complaints procedure, So if you are not happy with any facts of your care. You can find the process explained on most CCG websites, as well asthe application forms needed to make a claim. Explain your reasons and ask them to reconsider. So it’s called an individual funding request, if you apply directly to the CCG. This is the case. They will give you advice on what steps to take next.