Mental Health and Medical Record Copies in Spokane WA: Everything You Need to Know

Mental health is a big topic we often speak about today. Yet, it’s still considered taboo, hence why many people keep hush-hush about it. However, when it comes to your overall wellbeing, it’s critical to consider your mental health a critical component of who you are in order to be your happiest and healthiest self.

Of course, with mental health being a sector of your general medical health, you can probably see how the two are important to keep linked together. That leads us to the topic of mental health and ordering a copy of your medical records.

Do Medical Records Contain Mental Health Information?

Your general medical records can absolutely contain your mental health history. However, there are certain pieces of information that are kept separate from your medical and billing records. This includes notes or pieces of conversation that were jotted down by a mental health professional, say, during therapy or a counseling session. Notes of this sort cannot be read by patients and are to be private for the medical health professional to read only for the purpose of doing their job.

Can Having Access to my Medical Records Be Harmful to My Mental Health?

Access to your medical records, whether to look at your general medical history or your mental health history, can be beneficial for some folks as it can give them peace of mind regarding their current state of health. Sometimes knowing about their health or mental health status can give a person a clearer understanding of themselves and what the next steps are.

On the other hand, there are times where it may be harmful for their mental health. For some people, access to their records and the information inside them may trigger mental health symptoms. Seeing a mental health diagnosis on file for some people may even be an ugly reminder of their mental state, making them feel less than, hopeless, or as if they must “live up” to their diagnosis.

Generally, it all comes down to the specific person and how they perceive what’s contained within their records.

Am I Able to Get a Copy of My Medical Records Regardless of My Current Mental Health State?

In some cases, it may actually be legal to be denied access to your complete medical records in the event that your mental health diagnosis could be triggered by access to certain information. However, this isn’t always the case, and, often, you can still get a copy of your medical records.

The only way to know for sure if you’ll be able to have access is to request a copy of your medical records in the state of Washington by filling out our online form.

If you need any help doing so, call our team at 714 559-3071.