October 16, 2006

National Resource Center on Psychiatric Advance Directives (US)

With schizophrenia, and other mental illnesses there are frequently periods during which the person is thinking clearly and capably, and other times when they cannot.

During the periods when the person who suffers from schizophrenia is thinking clearly it is frequently valuable to work out a plan that should be enacted for those times when the person is not healthy. These plans can be made legal documents in the US using what is called a Psychiatric Advanced Directive. This document might also be valuable for people who are at high risk of schizophrenia - but who do not have it (so the family can easily get help for the person should they ever develop the disorder).

The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law has created a new web site focused just on the topic of Psychiatric Advanced Directives. We highly recommend the web site for any person or family in which mental illness is a challenge. See the link below:

National Resource Center on Psychiatric Advanced Directives


Thanks Tim.


Comments

Think this should also be added to bipolar news blog which i have to say has been singularly short on items ie last dated JUL 26th.

Perhaps it might be worth getting someone to concentrate on that blog to bring it up to par with the excellent schizophrenia news blog.

Posted by: Tim^ at October 16, 2006 04:46 PM

great idea, except for people who are not having completely lucid moments, and are just wanting to avoid psychiatric treatment. most of the people i work with are chronically ill, and are never able to make rational decisions about their health care. in fact with this setup they would get themselves in to far more trouble than they are now - if such a thing is possible. i'm not sure if their situation could get any worse.

Posted by: slc2 at October 20, 2006 11:36 AM

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