Advance Directive For Mental Health

At the least, a discussion with your Mental Health Proxy (and alternate Proxy) should include your thoughts about mental health treatment in general. A general discussion will help the Proxy fill in the blanks when matters are not black and white.

Also consider telling your thoughts about:

• Treatment preferences.
  • Keep in mind that consenting in advance to a particular medication or treatment does not mean your doctor will prescribe that treatment or drug unless it is appropriate treatment at the time you are ill. 
  •  Consent only means that you consent if it is a suitable choice at that time within the standards of medical care.
• Choice of treatment facility. For example, if you have a preference for a certain facility, or bad feelings about a certain facility.
• Medications.
  • If there is a particular medication you do not want, let your proxy know why. It will help in making other decisions as well.
  • If you choose not to receive any medications, keep in mind that new medications may come along that do not have whatever effect you may be concerned about.
• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
• Entering into an experimental study (a clinical trial.)

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