What is a mental health advance directive?

A mental health advance directive is a legal document that outlines a person’s wishes for their mental health care in the event that they become unable to make decisions for themselves. It is designed to help individuals communicate their mental health care preferences and how they would prefer to be treated if they become seriously mentally ill. In the state of California, this advance directive is governed by the Mental Health Advance Directive Act of 2000. The mental health advance directive allows individuals to document any wishes related to their mental health care in the event that they become unable to make these decisions for themselves. It typically includes information about what type of treatment the individual wishes to receive and who should be consulted in making decisions about the individual’s care. It also includes the individual’s preferred provider and any other details they would like to include. The document is required to be filed with the county where the person lives and a copy should be given to the individual’s mental health provider. If the individual wishes to revoke the directive or make any changes, they must update their directive by filing a new one with the county.

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What is a mental health advance directive?

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