“This time, with a PAD, I did not receive any treatments that I did not want. They were very respectful. I really felt like the hospital took better care of me because I had my PAD. In fact, I think it’s the best care that I’ve ever received.” Read More PAD Stories...

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.

Illinois Mental Health Resources

Illinois Mental Health Treatment Preference Declaration Act link – click to see the statute as it appears on the Illinois General Assembly website.

Illinois statute as a pdfPDF

Illinois Psychiatric Advance Directive/Attorney-in-fact for Mental Health Treatment formPDF 

Illinois Powers of Attorney for Health Care PDF

“A Guide To Advance Directives: Deciding Your Future Mental Health Treatment”PDF – created by the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission.

If you know of any relevant current legislation, pending legislation, or general issues of interest relating to psychiatric advance directives in your state, click here to contact us.