From our friend and colleague Dennis Romero at SAMHSA…
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has recently released a new mobile app, My Mental Health Crisis Plan, that allows people with serious mental illness (SMI) to guide their treatment during a mental health crisis.
The app provides an easy, step-by-step process for individuals to create and share a psychiatric advance directive (PAD). A PAD is a legal document that includes a list of instructions and preferences that the individual wishes to be followed in case of a mental health crisis, should they not be able to make their own decisions. The app was developed through SMI Adviser, a project funded by SAMHSA and administered by the American Psychiatric Association.
My Mental Health Crisis Plan allows individuals with serious mental illness to:
- Clearly state treatment preferences, including treatments to use and those not to use; medications to use and those not to use; preferences for hospitals; and preferences for doctors and other mental health professionals.
- Decide who can act on their behalf, by designating a trusted person (sometimes referred to as “healthcare agent,” “proxy,” or “health care power of attorney”) as a decision-maker on their behalf. Some states require appointment of a decision-maker to carry out the PAD instructions.
- Identify whom to notify in the event of a mental health crisis.
- Share the plan with others, including doctors, other members of the care team, and family and friends.
To learn more and to download the App, please visit the SMI Advisor. Please share with your networks.
