https://www.iampsychiatry.uk/private-mental-health-assessments/ 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 crucial to seek help. Mental illness is as serious as physical illness. Everyone should be treated with respect and dignity irrespective of gender, age, ethnicity, religion 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 used to see how well an individual is functioning psychologically, socially and developmentalally. It can also aid in diagnosing conditions like depression or neurological diseases like dementia. A healthcare professional will talk to the patient and observe their physical state during the initial assessment. They may also ask questions about their symptoms or what they have been going through. They will also check the way in which the person thinks, makes decisions and remembers (cognitive functioning). When assessing, a variety of tests can be conducted. They could be formal and standardized, or informal and non-standardized. These tools could include a checklist of problems as well as a memory check or self report screening tool like the GHQ or MMSE. These tools can be administered by a general practitioner or administered by an expert in mental health. Sometimes, people will require laboratory tests to determine if they have a problem. These tests could include blood or urine samples. Usually these tests aren't painful. The only discomfort could be caused by the injection of blood, which may feel like a small pinch or the sensation of stinging. In more serious instances the need for an MRI or EEG scan might be required. When a healthcare professional conducts an assessment, it is crucial that they have the most complete picture. This involves taking into consideration the patient's lifestyle, family history,