100638: Advance Directives in Behavioral Health Care

About the Course:

The ethical codes for most behavioral health practitioners place value on the autonomy and self-determination of clients. Psychiatric advance directives are relatively new tools developed to empower individuals to make their treatment preferences known in advance of a psychiatric crisis. The course materials provide an introduction to advance directives, consumers’ and practitioners’ perceptions, various features of state laws, and recommendations on the use of these tools. We are grateful to the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law for allowing the use of their publications. 2003, 25 pages of text.

Author

Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law

Recommended For:

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, psychologists, and other human services and behavioral health professionals who seek knowledge about advance directives, consumers’ and practitioners’ perceptions, and various features of state laws. It is appropriate for participants with intermediate to advanced levels of knowledge about the topic.

Course Objectives:

1. Understand what psychiatric advance directives are and how their use might potentially help clients realize more self-determination.

2. Understand how clients might utilize psychiatric advance directives and some of the implications of their usage.

3. Identify legal issues related to psychiatric advance directives.