Psychiatric Advance Directives: A Compelling Tool to Support Crisis Care-View Presentation Slides

View Presentation Slides

Pdf Summary

The document is a comprehensive guide on Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs), presented by the American Psychiatric Association, emphasizing their importance in mental health crisis care. These are legal documents enabling individuals with mental health conditions to outline their treatment preferences or appoint a proxy decision-maker when they are in a sound state of mind. The key components include Advance Instructions and Health Care Power of Attorney, with the former resembling a living will for mental health treatment and the latter appointing someone else to make decisions on behalf of the patient.<br /><br />The document highlights the significant benefits of PADs, such as improving patient autonomy, potentially avoiding involuntary treatments, and enhancing continuity of care. The legal basis of PADs draws from medical advance directives, with historical legal precedents dating back to the 1990s, when states began tailoring these directives for mental health to support patient self-determination.<br /><br />Despite the benefits, PADs are not widely mainstream, partly due to a lack of awareness and advocacy. Fifty percent of the states have specific laws for PADs, while others incorporate mental health provisions under general medical directives. The document emphasizes that healthcare professionals must incorporate PADs into medical records and adhere to them unless they conflict with standard medical practices or other legal requirements.<br /><br />The Crisis Navigation Project in North Carolina is cited as an example of community efforts to improve PAD facilitation. The document underscores the importance of educating patients, healthcare providers, and systems about PADs and their implementation. It also provides resources for further information and guidance on creating and implementing PADs.<br /><br />Overall, the document is an educational resource aimed at promoting the understanding and use of Psychiatric Advance Directives to empower individuals facing mental health crises.

Keywords

Psychiatric Advance Directives

mental health crisis

American Psychiatric Association

patient autonomy

legal documents

Advance Instructions

Health Care Power of Attorney

Crisis Navigation Project

patient self-determination

mental health advocacy