Duke Program on Psychiatric Advance Directives

Duke University Program on
Psychiatric Advance Directives

North Carolina has two ways people can plan ahead for mental health treatment they might want to receive if they are in a crisis and are unable to communicate for themselves or make voluntary decisions.
One tool is called an Advance Instruction for Mental Health Treatment. This document allows you to write down instructions to give your clinicians if you are in a crisis and you cannot make your own mental health treatment decisions.
A second tool is called a Health Care Power of Attorney (used to appoint a Health Care Agent). A Health Care Agent is someone who you trust and you would like to make decisions for you during a mental health crisis.
Blank Templates:
Psychiatric Advance Instructions Worksheet
Health Care Power of Attorney Worksheet
Instructions to Complete Templates:
Psychiatric Advance Instructions Toolkit for Consumers
Psychiatric Advance Instructions Toolkit for Clinicians
Psychiatric Advance Instructions Toolkit for Family
Health Care Power of Attorney Toolkit for Consumers
Health Care Power of Attorney Toolkit for Clinicians
Health Care Power of Attorney Toolkit for Family
Instructions for consumers , family members, and mental health clinicians map out clearly how to complete the worksheets and get them notarized.