# MHApps Take Control – Psychiatrists View – Perspective From Clinician – How is a Service User Assessed

Psychiatrist
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- A Consultant Psychiatrist’s View A consultant psychiatrist often provides advice to general practitioners on the management of mental ill health. On some occasions, a general practitioner may request an opinion from a mental health service. The initial assesment usually involves a consultant psychiatrist or a junior doctor who works with the service user under the supervision of a consultant psychiatrist.
  The initial meeting with the consultant psychiatrist provides an opportunity for the service user to discuss problems and identify recovery goals. It is also an opportunity for the service user to obtain information about what help is on offer from the mental health service. It can be useful to write notes and bring them with you to a first meeting with a consultant. It may also be helpful to ask a friend or family member to go with you. At a first meeting a consultant psychiatrist will usually ask about a person’s life story and life plans. This helps the consultant to have a better understanding of the person as an individual.

- The consultant psychiatrist may recommend that some tests should be done. This can include a brain scan or blood tests. These tests are often done because some symptoms of mental ill health can occur in other illnesses. Sometimes it might seem difficult to discuss some matters with someone you haven’t met before, or you might forget something important. In these circumstances it can be helpful to write to the consultant or the team.

- After the initial assessment, a consultant psychiatrist may recommend that the service user should meet another member of the team. A psychologist may help with advice on talking therapies, a social worker may help with housing problems, or an occupational therapist may help with advice on education or employment opportunities. The consultant psychiatrist meets with the team and the service user to ensure that a comprehensive assessment has been done, a diagnosis is discussed and a plan is agreed with the service user. The overall plan may include several different phases.
  The first phase involves working with the service user during recovery from an acute episode of illness. A consultant psychiatrist has special expertise in the use of medication and many people find medication to be of some benefit at this stage. There are many other treatments that work alongside medication and these should also be considered. The service user should be provided with information about the benefits and risks of each treatment option, so that he/she can make an informed decision about how they wish to proceed.
  Once a person has recovered from an acute episode of illness, the next phase will involve making a plan to reduce the likelihood of an episode in future. The invovement of the service user in developing and managing their own health through this plan is very important. It is also important that recovery goals are identified, and that the consultant psychiatrist and the team work with the service user as he/she realises these goals.

- As the person embarks on and sustains their own recovery, the consultant psychiatrist and the team will generally slowly reduce the level of support they provide. This is agreed with the service user, and allows him/her to manage and direct their own recovery.

Psychiatrist
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