In short, doing so will save you time and money. A comprehensive mental health initial evaluation requires us to know a lot about you, your current situation, your medical history, and your past. You can provide much of this information yourself in writing prior to the visit. Our mental health professionals will review this information before meeting you.

Naturally, you are much more than facts about your past. By gathering more information up front, you and the provider will be able to focus the visit on really understanding your story, your challenges, and your goals. This also allows for time for the clinician to explain treatment recommendations and answer any questions or address any concerns you might have.

Our mental health experts will start by verifying your identity and asking a few basic questions about your life, where you live, what you do for work or school, etc. Then they will ask you to describe what is bothering you the most and follow up questions that are related. They may ask some questions which you have already provided, but it’s important they understand the context behind your story. They will also ask you important questions about your mental health history like symptoms of bipolar disorder, severe substance use disorders, and other related questions to ensure that Mantra is a good fit for you.

For telehealth to work optimally, we recommend you be somewhere where you have a strong WiFi connection as cellular data connections may interrupt the flow of the visit or create delays in audio or video transmission. Beyond that, you should find a place that is private (i.e. no one else in the room), and where you can speak freely. The best evaluations happen when you can be completely honest with your care team. We also want to make sure that you are safe during your visit, so please don’t take your visit while you are driving or operating machinery.

Also, please remember that you must be physically located in a state where your school sponsors care, so if you are traveling or out-of-state for a school break, please reach out to your provider or to our team at hi@mantrahealth.com or 1 (800) 464-2083 to see if you’ll need to reschedule.

If the psychiatric provider believes a medication may help you, they will discuss options with you so that you can make a decision that you feel good about. One of those options will always be the right to choose no medication. We are here to help you on your journey by answering questions or concerns as well as making sure any medications you’re taking are making a meaningful difference in your life. If they’re not (or they’re causing negative side effects), then we’ll help you adjust, change, or stop them as appropriate.

That depends in part on your condition and in part on your preferences. For many, telehealth visits feel less frightening and easier to work into their schedule (in terms of time and money). For patients with more severe mental health disorders, in-person care may be more appropriate. Ultimately, we believe good care can be delivered in either format, but the key is that if you are suffering, please get help in a way that works for you. At Mantra, we believe everyone deserves world-class mental health care.

Have more questions about your first visit with Mantra? Reach out to us at hi@mantrahealth.com or 1 (800) 464-2083.