January 2, 2020

The Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) has been engaged in efforts to implement new Psychiatric Advance Directives* (PAD) legislation in Colorado. As part of this engagement, a Mountain Plains MHTTC staff member attended workgroup meetings, helped create training materials for the general public, and contributed to the development of the PAD form. On November 14, 2019 the Mountain Plains MHTTC hosted a series of meetings featuring Patricia Siebert, a national PAD expert, at the offices of Mental Health Colorado in Denver. Ms. Siebert facilitated two separate meetings aimed at providing information about PAD training and implementation. The first meeting with peers focused on the nuts and bolts of PAD training, how to conduct it, and what to cover among other topics. This group was also able to gain further insight into PAD training by having the opportunity to ask questions and learn from Ms. Siebert’s extensive experiences. The second meeting was with stakeholders who helped craft the legislation and develop the PAD training materials. This group is focused on the upcoming PAD roll-out and benefited from Ms. Siebert’s experience through a comprehensive question and answer session.

Learn more about Colorado’s Psychiatric Advance Directive Legislation

Read more information about Pat Siebert

Access a one-hour PAD video featuring Patricia Siebert and provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

*According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a psychiatric or mental health advance directive (PAD) is a legal tool that allows a person with mental illness to state their preferences for treatment in advance of a crisis. They can serve to protect a person’s autonomy and ability to self-direct care. They are like living wills and other medical advance planning documents used in palliative care.