October 1, 2020 – The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released a new mobile app called "My Mental Health Crisis Plan." The app helps individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) create a plan to guide their treatment.
One function of the app is to help users create and share a psychiatric advance directive (PAD). A PAD is a legal document that contains instructions and preferences that the individual wishes to be followed in case of a mental health crisis. The PAD can include preferences for types of medications to be used, preferences for hospitals and doctors, the designation of a proxy decision-maker, emergency contact information, and the ability to share the plan with others.
“The My Mental Health Crisis Plan app provides a simple, convenient and effective way to create and share a psychiatric advance directive,” said American Psychological Association CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, MD, MPA. “We are pleased to partner with SAMHSA in creating this important technological tool for people with serious mental illness.”
