Multi-disciplinary Mental Health Assessment Service.
Dean Clinics provide a nationwide network of community clinics accessible to people in every county in Ireland through GP referral process. Our clinics provide access to the highest standard in Mental Health assessment and treatment and strive to make your experience of the Assessment and Treatment process as comfortable, safe and reassuring as possible. Our Mental Health Assessment process is informed by and in keeping with best international evidence and the Mental Health Commission’s Code of Practice (2009).
Our Clinics are open on a Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm basis and all assessments are on a scheduled appointment basis.
What is a Multidisciplinary Mental Health Assessment?
A Multidisciplinary Mental Health Assessment is a structured and comprehensive evaluation of your emotional, psychological, cognitive and physical state led by a Consultant Psychiatrist in conjunction with other MH professionals. The assessment process uses the expertise and experience of the most relevant MH professionals depending on the reason for your referral and your Mental Health Needs.
For example, if you are being referred for an assessment of a potential eating disorder, then our Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Nurse Specialist from our Eating Disorder team will carry out the assessment. If the assessment relates to a substance misuse difficulty, our Consultant Psychiatrist and an addiction counselor from our Addictions Team will carry out the assessment. Similarly, our Anxiety Disorders assessment involves a Consultant Psychiatrist and Cognitive Behavioral Therapist.
The following is a list of the Mental Health Issues for which we provide specialist assessment by our expert teams.
The Assessment
A number of Assessment Clinics may require you to complete an assessment form before you meet the Psychiatrist, Clinical Nurse Specialist or Counsellor. In certain circumstances, you will be required to have prescribed blood tests carried out in advance of the assessment so that the Multi-disciplinary Team can evaluate if there are physical issues that need to be taken into account also. The assessment process typically takes between 1 and 1.5 hours and includes a detailed interview which assesses but is not limited to the following key areas;
a) Your presenting problem(s)
b) A history of your presenting problem(s)
c) Any previous mental health difficulties.
d) A risk assessment of your current mental Health
e) A review of your current and past medications, side effects/allergies if relevant
f) Your medical history
g) Your personal history
h) Your social circumstances
i) A Mental State Examination
j) A collateral history. This is required on occasion where it is felt that the perspective of your concerned person, partner or spouse could provide useful information to the team.
Following your assessment, an individual care and treatment plan will be discussed and agreed with you and follow up treatment at the Clinic, Hospital or our Wellness & Recovery Centre can be arranged if required. Your GP will receive a copy of your Mental Health Assessment Report which may include some treatment suggestions should you choose not to pursue treatment with the Clinics.
The care plan may recommend inpatient treatment within one of our approved Centres which include St Patrick’s University Hospital, St Edmundsbury Hospital or our Willow Grove Adolescent Unit
In-patient admission is only recommended after exploring all appropriate alternative treatment options including Therapy or Counselling on an outpatient basis or referral to one of our Clinical Programmes on a day patient basis.