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It’s likely you’ve heard of a “living will,” a legal document that outlines one’s preferences for their medical treatment in the event of a serious or terminal illness that renders them unable to express their wishes.

But did you know there’s something like a “living will” for mental health care? It’s usually called a “psychiatric advance directive” or a “mental health advance directive.” It’s an important tool to know about, especially if you or someone you care about may be facing a serious mental illness.

Let’s review the basics about psychiatric advance directives, including what they are, how to develop one, and how to use it when the need arises.

What is a psychiatric advance directive?

A psychiatric advance directive (PAD) is a legal document written by someone who has a mental illness. The PAD may contain one or both of the following types of information:

You can give instructions about future preferences for mental health treatment should you experience a mental health crisis and have reduced or impaired ability to communicate your wishes during such a crisis.

You can name another person (who may be called a “surrogate,” “agent,” “power of attorney,” or “proxy”) to make treatment decisions for you when you are unable to do so.

What types of instructions........

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