What to expect at an NHS mental health assessment?

[robin]

Hello,
I wonder if anyone can advise me what to expect. I recently admitted to my GP that I have been having suicidal thoughts for 18 months. She has started me on anti-depressants and is referring me to a mental health unit for assessment to determine whether psychotherapy would be appropriate.
Does anyone know what these assessments are like? The doctor said it would be about an hour and I would need to tell them quite a lot of detail, but I'm at a loss how to explain myself to them.

Should I describe my feelings, or facts about myself e.g. physical symptoms or historical items (neglect / abuse as a child)? Or do they simply ask specific closed questions that I just answer?
If anyone has any experience I would be very grateful to hear about it.
Many thanks

[potor]

There is no cause for you to worry because the Mental Health Team are very experienced in interviewing new clients. They will ask you the appropriate questions and of course you are at liberty to offer any information you feel is relevant.
It is a good idea to give them as much information as you can, because this will help the team to get a fuller picture.
The team will have received the initial referral from your GP, and at the team meeting they will have allocated a specific member of the team to be your main link worker.
So don't be too anxious about the process.

[aeunjoo]

Thank you SO much for the reassuring reply. I needed to hear that very badly!!! I was worried that if I started telling them stuff about what happened to me 18 years ago they would think I was being stupid.
I will feel really silly telling them how terrified I am of interacting with people, but at least if I can explain that I never was allowed to go to school or have friends, it might make a bit more sense.
Thank you again and hope you have a very happy New Year.

[woong]

I had an assessment nearly three months ago now. I was anxious about it at the time, before going, and I know it's easy for me to say now, but it really isn't anything to worry about - in fact it was a relief, a very positive experience for me - for the first time ever I felt that someone was taking me seriously, and really listening to me. So many times during the session I can remember saying "this is going to sound silly/I feel stupid about this" and words to that effect - but I felt free to say as little or as much as I wanted to and was reassured that these things are very real to me, though trying to talk to people before I always had the impression that people would think I was making a fuss about nothing or that what I had to say wasn't important - but if it's important to you, it's vitally important, however long ago or "irrelevent" it may seem. I felt very safe - of course I tried to say everything I could think of, because I knew the more information I could give would help, and it can be stressful, for me it was going through everything again after having done so with my GP already - but I could take short cuts as the psychiatric nurse who took the session had my GP's notes in front of him. And the first thing he said was that I could walk out of the door any time I wanted without having to ask or give an explanation of any sort. The questions ranged from obviously how I was feeling, and how long I had felt like this, to questions about work, family, and physical health, like sleeping patterns etc. They know exactly what to ask to help you. After the assessment I was told that I would be put further up the waiting list for counseling than I was already. In the meantime I'm alright - I'm taking Citalopram, which has really helped, sort of given me breathing space, a "rest", and a chance to really think through things - I know drugs aren't the long term answer, but the new, positive habits I've formed since I've been on these, they are getting so ingrained now it's unlikely that they will change. And I'm back at work. I've been able to make a lot of changes myself, but I will not refuse counseling when my name eventually comes up.