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In 2021, 32.8% of Delawareans had symptoms of anxiety or depression, while 16.9% were unable to get counseling or therapy for their symptoms. At SUN Behavioral Health Delaware, we aim to make this easier for the people in our community. This includes providing resources that help them answer their common questions. Today, we will answer: “Do I need a psychiatric evaluation?”
A psychiatric evaluation occurs when you first meet with a therapist or psychiatrist. This is an assessment that they conduct to identify the symptoms you are experiencing and create a possible diagnosis that enables them to formulate the best treatment plan for your needs. How long your evaluation will take varies depending on the psychiatrist’s approach and your specific needs.
During your psychiatric evaluation, you will be asked various questions to help your psychiatrist better understand your circumstances and reasons for coming in. Some of these questions might seem unrelated to your current situation or invasive coming from someone you just met. Answering all questions honestly gives your therapist a better idea of what type of treatment would most benefit your healing journey.
Common questions that you might be asked include:
There are 3 main types of psychiatric evaluations that you might come across in your mental health journey. They all address the same concerns, but the reasoning behind them being done differs.
Emergency evaluations must be done as soon as possible due to a mental health crisis. These are conducted in emergency rooms or crisis care centers to determine how to help someone during this experience. Common signs of a mental health crisis that would lead to the conduction of an emergency evaluation include:
General psychiatric evaluations might be conducted when your doctor or other medical professional has a suspicion that you might have a mental health condition. They will review your medical and family history, as well as run necessary labs to rule out potential medical concerns that might be contributing to your mental health symptoms.
The third type of psychiatric evaluation you might encounter is a clinical consultation. These are ones that you or a loved one can request if you are experiencing mental health symptoms to get a diagnosis. If a loved one requests this on your behalf, you will be informed about it.
Above, we mentioned some of the common signs that indicate a mental health crisis that would result in an emergency psychiatric evaluation. However, those signs don’t cover all of the reasons someone might need mental health treatment or a diagnosis. Some people have mental health conditions that significantly impact their ability to function but are not considered intense enough for a crisis. Below, we discuss 6 signs that tell you when you should ask your doctor or a psychiatrist for a psychiatric evaluation.
Someone with a mental health condition might encounter difficulty in remembering important things such as their appointments or the bills and responsibilities they have daily. They might also have difficulty remembering recent conversations, what they had for breakfast that morning, or even where they recently placed an item. If you are experiencing these things, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have memory loss. It might still be possible to remember them with time and energy, which is still an indication that you should talk with your doctor about possibly getting a psychiatric evaluation, as it could be an indication that your brain isn’t functioning at its best.
Suppose you are experiencing memory loss and cannot remember important events or actions even with effort. In that case, it is imperative to talk with your doctor. They will most likely perform several tests and a psychiatric evaluation to ensure that a physical ailment does not cause your memory loss.
You might find that you are unable to focus on anything due to a mental health condition. Similarly to memory concerns, being unable to concentrate on essential tasks or activities that you used to be able to do is a sign to discuss the possibility of a psychiatric evaluation and mental health treatment with your doctor. Leaving this symptom untreated might worsen or complicate functioning in your daily life.
One of the most telling signs that you should request a psychiatric evaluation from your doctor or psychiatrist is if you have new or worsening symptoms when it comes to your mental health. There are a range of symptoms that someone might have that fall under this category, which could include:
Having any of the above symptoms is a reason to discuss the possibility of being diagnosed and treated for a mental health condition.
As mentioned throughout, thoughts of suicide are a reason to get a psychiatric evaluation as soon as possible. It doesn’t matter if these thoughts are passive or active, as both are reasons to seek an assessment and treatment.
Passive suicidal ideation is having thoughts of dying by suicide, but you have no plan or desire to make a plan to harm yourself. Someone with passive suicidal thoughts is not typically an immediate danger to themselves, but left untreated could result in active suicidal ideation. This is why it is essential to seek an evaluation of these symptoms.
Active suicidal ideation is when you have created a plan to die by suicide. You might already have the method of suicide in your possession, have given away valued belongings, and have written a note to loved ones. If you have any thoughts, visit a 24/7 crisis care center as soon as possible. There, you will be met with a compassionate team who will help you find stabilization and relief from these symptoms. You will also receive an emergency psychiatric evaluation at that time.
Suppose you are currently receiving mental health treatment, and it is not working. In that case, this is a reason to consider getting a psychiatric evaluation to reassess your symptoms and needs. Every person is different, and some people might require a different level of care to find healing from their condition.
If you are unable to care for yourself or accomplish the daily tasks you have, seeking a psychiatric evaluation is a beneficial first step in finding recovery. Signs of being unable to care for yourself due to a mental health condition include not getting enough sleep or sleeping too much, not eating or overeating, not being able to keep up with your hygiene, or feeling an overwhelming amount of stress, feeling like not doing anything at all. If you relate to any of these signs, talk with your doctor or a psychiatrist about mental health treatment.
Suppose you relate to the signs mentioned above. In that case, you might wonder what you need to do to get a psychiatric evaluation. This depends on what type you need. If you need an emergency psychiatric evaluation, the best way to accomplish that is to attend an emergency room or crisis care center as soon as possible.
However, most people do not need an emergency psychiatric evaluation when it comes to their mental health. The most common psychiatric evaluations people will encounter are general evaluations or clinical consultations. With that in mind, there are a few places you can turn to for that. These include your primary care physician, a mental health professional like a therapist or counselor, or going to a psychiatric hospital for a care assessment.
While not an official diagnosis, you can also take online depression surveys, which enable you to know if treatment for your symptoms is necessary. These are not to be used as a diagnostic tool. They help encourage you to seek a more formal psychiatric evaluation at one of the locations mentioned above.
The first step to healing from a mental health condition is with a psychiatric evaluation. The second step is finding the proper care to consider your assessments and previous treatment experiences. Mental health treatment looks different for everyone, and without the appropriate care plan, you might find it challenging to achieve your goals. At SUN Behavioral Health Delaware, we consider you, your previous evaluations, and your doctor’s recommendations throughout our no-cost psychiatric consultations to ensure you have the right treatment plan for your lasting recovery.
At SUN Behavioral Health Delaware, we aim to solve unmet needs of adults and adolescents in Georgetown. Our 24/7 crisis care center can provide an emergency evaluation if you are experiencing a mental health crisis. To learn more about our psychiatric evaluation options, call us at 302-604-5600.
21655 Biden Ave
Georgetown, DE, 19947
Open 24 hours
SUN Delaware
