PADS PEER VOICE-ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION PROJECT 
Painted Brain (PB) was awarded the PADs Peer Voice-Advocacy and Education Grant a California Statewide Project funded through the MHSA Multi-County PADs Innovation Project. 

WHAT IS A PSYCHIATRIC ADVANCE DIRECTIVE?
A psychiatric advance directive (PAD) is a legal, rights document enabling people to plan for, prevent, and/or reduce the severity of potential future mental health crises by:

  • Stating preferences regarding mental health treatment inside a psychiatric hospital.
  • Providing de-escalation tools to reduce emergency interventions.
  • Providing de-escalation tools for law enforcement and crisis personnel.
  • Providing information about physical medical conditions and needs.
  • Identifying medical and Healthcare Advocates  and other supporters.
  • Planning in advance to address practical matters.
  • Stating preferences regarding mental health treatment inside a psychiatric hospital.
A person using creative writing as a mental health recovery tool

A PAD may also enable people to identify the supports and services they need to meaningfully integrate in the community by addressing the following issues:

  • Housing
  • Employment
  • Education
  • Finances
  • Terms of jail diversion, probation, and parole.
  • Information on trauma triggers and responses.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF

A picture of laptop with a mug - the laptop is hosting a zoom session.
a leather handbag with dual leather straps, everything is made of leather and the skin is a nice orange tan while the straps are a nice dark leather.
an older man struggling to access digital mental health resources on a laptop

During the darkest moments the PAD speaks for me by allowing me to be an active part of my treatment when I am not able to.

– Aaron Willis

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