A Family Bond Strengthened by a Psychiatric Advance Directive

In the realm of mental health care, an individual’s treatment preferences can sometimes get lost in clinical language, medical decisions, and providers’ belief that they are not making the best decisions for themselves. This is the story of Kaely, who lives with bipolar disorder, and her mother, Maggie. Together, they strengthened their family bond by using a Psychiatric Advance Directive (PAD) to enable Maggie to advocate for Kaely’s values and treatment preferences.

Kaely was fortunate to learn about mental health crisis planning while undergoing mental health treatment. Once she realized how powerful this tool could be for her treatment and recovery, she developed a passion for sharing her experience to inspire other families. Watch their inspiring story and learn how PADs can empower individuals and help caregivers understand their loved one’s treatment wishes.

Their Voices Matter: Empowering the Family Bond

Kaely needed assurance that her voice would always be heard, even during periods when she might be unable to communicate her wishes. Using the PAD, Kaely was able to express her treatment preferences and Maggie was empowered to advocate for these preferences when Kaely was unable to. This not only ensured Kaely’s voice was heard, but it also strengthened the family bond between mother and daughter as they navigated the challenging landscape of mental health care together.

They explore the profound impact these directives can have on personal autonomy and family relationships. Watch the video here.

The Power of PADs

A PAD can serve as a powerful tool for individuals living with mental health conditions. By allowing them to articulate their treatment preferences in advance, these directives can ensure their voices are heard even during periods when they might be unable to communicate effectively. As seen in Kaely and Maggie’s story, this not only empowers the individual but can also significantly strengthen familial bonds.