What should happen in my first appointment?
In your first appointment with Mindworks, you'll meet a practitioner from that service’s team. Your appointment would normally last around an hour:
- You might fill out some forms or write answers to questions about how you're feeling.
- You might talk about your emotional wellbeing or things you have experienced that could be linked to poor mental health.
Your practitioner may ask for your parent/carer to join for their feedback. This is to help us understand your journey and how you have been feeling. If you do not feel comfortable with this, you can speak to your practitioner and they will understand.
At the end of your first appointment, or a little while after your team has thought things through, they should let you know what happens next. They should tell you:
- Who can support you - this might include signposting to services available within Mindwork and alliance partners
- How they can support you
- What the next steps are
What will they ask me in my first appointment?
A practitioner from the service might ask you questions about:
- How you've been feeling and how your mood has been, including any changes you may have noticed
- What's been going on for you from your perspective
- Any changes in your sleep or eating
- Any problems at school or at home, or any difficult things that have happened recently
- Relationships with family, carers, friends and partners
- Things you enjoy doing
- Things you would like help with
- How you think the service could help
- Your medical/mental health history, or if people related to you have any health problems
- Anything else that has happened historically or anything else in your journey that is important to know about
How can I prepare for my first appointment?
Feeling prepared can help you to feel calmer about your first appointment but we realise you might still be nervous or have anxiety. You don't need to do lots of preparation. Especially if you don't feel well enough, or the idea of it makes you feel stressed. However, before your appointment, it could help to:
- Write things down – try writing what you've been feeling or experiencing, how long it's been going on and what you think you need help with.
- Think of ways you want to share – you might prefer to read out something you've written down, talk freely, or maybe a bit of both.
- Talk to people you trust – tell them how you're feeling about your first appointment and how they can support you leading up to it.
- Think about who supports you and how they do this - this is helpful to share on your first appointment
- Plan ahead for practical things – think of what you need to do to be ready. This could be knowing who you're meeting, where you're meeting and making sure you've packed a drink and notepad.
- Try to make time for things you enjoy – think of how you'll take care of yourself before and after. For example, you could meet a friend or do some gaming.
What questions should I ask in my first appointment?
You can ask about anything you're unsure of in your first appointment. Having all the information can make you feel more in control. It might help to ask:
- What can I expect from the service?
- How many appointments am I likely to get?
- What if I turn 18 with a service?
- What do I do if I need urgent help?
- While i'm waiting what else is available to me?
- Who can I contact if I have more questions?
