New Resource Center on Psychiatric Advance Directives

July 17, 2006-The Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center
 and the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law are proud to launch the
 National Resource Center on Psychiatric Advance Directives (NRC-PAD), at
 http://www.nrc-pad.org. The NRC-PAD offers mental health consumers, family
 members, clinicians and policymakers timely information about PADs,
 including:

    * Introduction to PADs
    * Forms to complete PADs
    * Links to state statutes
    * Educational webcasts
    * Discussion forums
    * Frequently-Asked-Questions
    * Past and up-to-date research

The NRC-PAD will be a key gathering place for stakeholders to learn about
 psychiatric advance directives and how to complete these legal documents.
 The NRC-PAD aims to assist in implementing laws that support patient
 self-determination and high-quality mental health care.

Twenty-two states have created specific forms for PADs, available through
the
 NRC-PAD. The resource center also links to healthcare directive forms for
 the remaining states, or consumers can use the Bazelon Center's template
for
 a PAD at http://www.bazelon.org/issues/advancedirectives


"People Who experience mood swings, fear, voices and visions"