SHASTA COUNTY, Calif. — Shasta County is now one of only eight counties in California offering web-based Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs), an innovative tool designed to empower people living with mental health or behavioral health conditions to guide their care in the event of a crisis.
According to the Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency, a Psychiatric Advance Directive is completed while a person is well and able to make informed decisions on their own behalf. The document is intended to support crisis planning, care coordination, and de-escalation if a behavioral health emergency occurs later.
A PAD can be accessed by authorized professionals such as healthcare providers, first responders, and law enforcement. It helps these responders better understand how to care for an individual during and after a crisis, based on the person’s own stated preferences.
Information included in a PAD may outline how best to communicate with the individual during a crisis, preferred medications or treatments, who should be contacted for support, and where the person feels most comfortable receiving care. The documents are highly customizable, allowing individuals to decide who can access their information.
Previously, Psychiatric Advance Directives were only available as lengthy, approximately 30-page physical documents, which were often difficult for providers to access during urgent situations. By transitioning to a secure online platform, Shasta County aims to make this critical information more readily available when it is needed most.
Officials say the digital system improves response time and coordination, helping de-escalate crises and supporting better outcomes for individuals, families, and responders alike.
Anyone can complete a PAD at no cost. The process is designed to be simple and accessible via desktop or mobile device. Users can start, pause, and return to complete the document at any time, and updates are reflected immediately once made.
For additional instructions or to create a PAD, go to this website.