A multi-county collaborative has joined together in a Mental Health Services Act Innovations Project to develop and test the feasibility of Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs) in California.
Each county is identifying priority populations to focus on during this pilot project, such as foster youth, older adults, or people who experience homelessness. Priority populations are determined based on their robust stakeholder processes.
A key part of this project is the development of a user-friendly and secure online tool for Psychiatric Advance Directives in California.
With this interactive app, people will be able to learn about, complete, and store their Psychiatric Advance Directives.
Ongoing collaboration with peers, individuals self-identified as having lived experience with the recovery process, is integral to the development approach of this project.
A Psychiatric Advance Directive is a valuable tool empowering a person's voice and personal choices. The purpose is to assist in a quick recovery from a crisis situation. However, it benefits overall recovery as well, encouraging listening, being seen as a whole person, supporting self-direction and wellness.
A PAD is a legal document with an individual’s specific instructions or preferences regarding treatment, in case of a future behavioral health crisis in which they might not be able to make their own decisions.
Psychiatric Advance Directives are a means for increasing self-determination by encouraging and empowering people to make decisions about their lives to the maximum extent possible.
Click to learn more about each county.
