Open to the public! Come learn about psychiatric advance directives as an option for yourself or a loved one.

Join us for an informative and inspirational session with Andrea Avila, JD PhD, and Lauren Lang, MS. Andrea and Lauren are both advocates for Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs) and have complementary expertise in legal, advocacy, and recovery perspectives.

Lauren is an accomplished neuroscientist and advocate specializing in mental health and sexual violence and assault at Emory University. She is working with the Atlanta Behavioral Health Advocates and the Georgia Advocacy Office to get the word out about PADs, and she recently presented on the topic at the American Psychological Association. Andrea is a Licensed Psychologist (PhD), Licensed Attorney (JD), and Certified Forensic Evaluator who works at Oregon State Hospital and in private practice. She has made great contributions to both psychological and legal science and practice, as evidenced by her leadership at the American Psychology-Law Society meeting.

Psychiatric advance directives (PADs; i.e., mental health advance directives) are an exciting recent addition to legislation in a growing number of states. Like medical advance directives, PADs allow us to state our preferences for treatment and set boundaries about what we would not like if one day we are not afforded a voice. These become active if we are found to not be able to consent for ourselves, perhaps in an inpatient treatment facility. PADs give us a means to protect our autonomy.

Despite the incredible opportunity PADs give us in speaking up and forming a partnership with our providers, it can be very difficult to understand all the nuances to a document and to complete one on our own when we are also managing our mental health. There is immense power in education and having full knowledge and consent behind the documents we create and sign.

Family members are often involved either in helping a loved one learn about, complete, and share a PAD, and/or as an assigned “agent” if the PAD is activated. Family supporters can be critical to supported decision making while completing a PAD and advocating for their loved ones’ rights and preference. Collaborating on a PAD can be a key process and document for wellness and recovery planning and relapse prevention.

At this event, Andrea and Lauren will briefly present critical information about PADs and how and why to complete them, as well as legal, policy, and scientific considerations. The second half will be devoted to a respectful group discussion and Q&A so that participants can get the most out of Andrea and Lauren’s expertise and decide how to proceed for their own families.

“Psychologists and Atlanta Behavioral Health Advocates address Social Justice Advocacy approaches that “walk the line” to balance the pursuit of social justice passions and institutional priorities. Advocacy actions regarding Psychiatric Advanced Directives and Abortion Rights are highlighted and a guiding set of tenets are offered to aid trainees engaged in advocacy.”

Psychiatric Advance Directives: Advocacy Considerations & Efforts

Presentation Abstract:

The person-centered utilization and implementation of psychiatric advance directives (PADs) is a recommended standard practice in behavioral health crisis service planning. Psychiatric advance directives facilitate the expression of mental health treatment preferences during a period when individuals may be deemed incompetent to do so. Similar to medical advance directives, PADs protect individuals’ autonomy by emphasizing their fundamental right to make decisions about their mental health treatment. Utilization of PADs encourages using historical personal experiences and knowledge in planning effective crisis intervention techniques and treatments. Imparting PAD information to crisis intervention teams helps avert many potential treatment adverse reactions such as severe akathisia, critically low blood pressure, cardiac issues, and treatment-emergent suicidality and mania, and expedite identification and utilization of effective interventions. The use of PADs also promotes the recovery process through supporting empowerment, minimizing experienced coercion, improving the identification and utilization of coping strategies, and decreasing the use of involuntary hospitalizations. While individual support for PADs is high, there is a significant disparity between the number of people who want and the number who successfully complete PADs. This disparity disproportionately impacts marginalized individuals whose input and desires are disproportionately unsolicited and ignored in treatment/intervention processes. Currently only a fifth of submitted PADs are being accessed by treatment teams. Advocacy efforts are needed to facilitate the appropriate utilization and ensure implementation of PADs. A three-fold approach of provider education, public education, and facilitated support/implementation is recommended via the creation of community PAD clinics as well as hospital and state policy changes.

Authors: Lauren Lang, MS; Keith A. Wood, PhD; DeJuan White, MD

Psychiatric Advance Directives: Advocacy Considerations & Efforts

Poster Presentation Abstract:

The person-centered utilization and implementation of psychiatric advance directives (PADs) is a recommended standard practice in behavioral health crisis service planning. Psychiatric advance directives facilitate the expression of mental health treatment preferences during a period when individuals may be deemed incompetent to do so. Similar to medical advance directives, PADs protect individuals’ autonomy by emphasizing their fundamental right to make decisions about their mental health treatment. Utilization of PADs encourages using historical personal experiences and knowledge in planning effective crisis intervention techniques and treatments. Imparting PAD information to crisis intervention teams helps avert many potential treatment adverse reactions such as severe akathisia, critically low blood pressure, cardiac issues, and treatment-emergent suicidality and mania, and expedite identification and utilization of effective interventions. The use of PADs also promotes the recovery process through supporting empowerment, minimizing experienced coercion, improving the identification and utilization of coping strategies, and decreasing the use of involuntary hospitalizations. While individual support for PADs is high, there is a significant disparity between the number of people who want and the number who successfully complete PADs. This disparity disproportionately impacts marginalized individuals whose input and desires are disproportionately unsolicited and ignored in treatment/intervention processes. Currently only a fifth of submitted PADs are being accessed by treatment teams. Advocacy efforts are needed to facilitate the appropriate utilization and ensure implementation of PADs. A three-fold approach of provider education, public education, and facilitated support/implementation is recommended via the creation of community PAD clinics as well as hospital and state policy changes.

Authors: Lauren Lang, MS; Keith A. Wood, PhD; DeJuan White, MD

Closed event.

This workshop is available for individuals in the Dekalb Community Service Board Peer Program to complete a PAD.

Closed event.

This workshop is available for individuals in the Dekalb Community Service Board Peer Program to complete a PAD.

Open to all!

Come visit our booth to learn more about psychiatric advance directives. Please also visit other booths to learn about mental health services available in the Gwinnett County.

Open to the public! Come learn about psychiatric advance directives as an option for yourself or a loved one.

Open to all!

Come visit our booth to learn more about psychiatric advance directives. Please also visit other booths to learn about mental health services available in the Atlanta area.

Open to all!

Come in person or online and fill out your very own PAD!