“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.

New Mexico Forms

New Mexico’s Mental Health Care Treatment Decisions Act allows you to write instructions for your psychiatric treatment in the event that you are incapable to make or communicate those instructions. The statute also allows you to appoint an agent to instruct mental health care professionals for you. In New Mexico, a PAD is known as an “advance directive for mental health treatment”.  The statute includes a standard form, which is not mandatory but is recommended.