Information for the public
What should happen when I first see a healthcare professional?
What should happen when I first see a healthcare professional?
When you first see any healthcare professional about your mental health or your drug and/or alcohol use, they will want to know about what is happening in your life.
If you see a healthcare professional because you have been having hallucinations and/or delusions, they may ask you if you drink alcohol or take drugs. They will want to know about what you drink or the drugs you use, how much and how often you drink or take drugs, and how long you have been drinking or taking drugs.
If you see a healthcare professional about your drug and/or alcohol use, they may ask you if you have hallucinations and/or delusions.
With your agreement, your family, carers or significant others may also be asked their views about your mental health problems and your drug and/or alcohol use.
If a healthcare professional in primary care, such as your GP, thinks that you may have psychosis with or without a drug and/or alcohol problem, you should be offered an appointment for an assessment with mental health services (for adults or for children and young people).
Your relationship with your healthcare professional
It may be difficult for you to discuss your mental health and drug and/or alcohol use. Your healthcare professionals should be aware of any sensitive issues relating to being diagnosed with psychosis and a drug and/or alcohol problem and should build a relationship with you based on respect, trust, understanding and being hopeful about the future. You may be worried about being labelled as 'mad' because of your diagnosis. Your healthcare professionals should reassure you about your diagnosis and make sure you have access to all the support and services you need for both the psychosis and your drug and/or alcohol use.
Your confidentiality, privacy and dignity should be respected at all times.
What can I expect during an assessment with mental health services?
During the assessment, which may take place over several meetings, healthcare professionals will want to get to know you and find out more about your psychosis and your drug and/or alcohol use. They will want to know about your mental and physical health, how severe the problems are and what treatments would suit you best. They may also ask you about your relationships, living arrangements and background, about your drinking or drug use and how this has affected your life and health. In addition, they may ask whether any treatments you may have had for psychosis and drug and/or alcohol use have helped you. They may also want to know whether you have been in trouble with the police or courts and whether you feel ready to make positive changes to your drug or alcohol use and your lifestyle. You may be asked to have a blood or urine test as part of your assessment. Your agreement should be asked before the test is carried out and your healthcare professional should tell you the results of any tests conducted.
With your agreement, your family, carers or significant others may also be asked about your mental health problems and your drinking or drug use. You should be shown a record of what your family, carers or significant others said.
Healthcare professionals will want to make sure that you or other people are not at risk of harm because of your psychosis and alcohol or drug use. Risks might include harming yourself, wanting to end your life, not looking after yourself, physical illness, accidental injuries, being taken advantage of by others or offending behaviour.