About PADs
- A psychiatric advance directive (PAD) is a legal document that documents a person’s preferences for future mental health treatment, and allows appointment of a health proxy to interpret those preferences during a crisis.
- PADs may be drafted when a person is well enough to consider preferences for future mental health treatment.
- PADs are used when a person becomes unable to make decisions during a mental health crisis.
Family Members and Friends
STEP 1 – Find out the basics about psychiatric advance directives.
STEP 2 – Look for answers to frequently asked questions about psychiatric advance directives.
STEP 3 – Find out what kind of information you can put into your psychiatric advance directive.
STEP 4 – Learn what your family member’s or friend’s state says about psychiatric advance directives and download forms.
STEP 5 – Email us any questions you or your family member or friend may have.