Booking a psychiatric evaluation online may sound complicated, but it’s actually a lot simpler than you think. Here are some easy steps you can take to get the mental health services that you need.
If you feel like you’re spiraling more and more every day, don’t wait to take action. Mental health conditions can be serious, especially if they start affecting your work life, relationships, and physical health. Luckily, a licensed mental health provider will be able to diagnose you and refer you to the treatments that you need.
Not fond of the idea of getting an assessment because you’ll have to travel long distances or bear with long waiting times? Here’s the good news: experts say that online psychiatric evaluations are just as effective as in-person ones, and telehealth options can potentially expedite the process for you.
Psychiatric evaluations refer to a number of screening tools that are used by professionals to assess an individual’s mental health, personality, behavior, and cognitive abilities. These evaluations are instrumental in determining the type and intensity of care that an individual may need to manage any mental health or behavioral challenges they are facing.
Mental health experts say that psychiatric evaluations are also ideal for diagnosing clinical disorders, including depression, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, and bipolar disorder.
Although staffing shortages and longer wait times limit access to timely interventions, you can still book psychiatric evaluations online.
The benefits to this are twofold: online evaluations eliminate potential commute times and costs associated with travel; research has also shown that they are as accurate as in-person evaluations, providing the same level of care to patients while significantly improving accessibility.
If you want to get an online psychiatric assessment, the first thing you should do is look for a mental health provider that’s licensed to practice in your state. If you live in California, Virginia, or Washington, Mission Connection provides comprehensive outpatient treatment programs alongside its diagnostic services.
But what does the assessment process actually look like? Well, once you contact a mental health provider, they’ll have you in for a preliminary appointment, usually over the phone or video. During this appointment, your provider will:
Once the psychiatrist has determined what kind of treatment is required, you’ll be referred to the appropriate treatment program.
Now, here’s the million-dollar question: how much will you have to pay for an assessment? Puns aside, costs will vary based on location, but most insurance plans will cover psychiatric evaluations offered via telehealth.
Mental health providers may also offer sliding scale fees or payment plans. That’s why you should never feel shy about asking what your options are, especially if you aren’t covered.
If you want to learn more about the process, treatment centers like Mission Connection have in-depth resources you can check out.
