Mental Health Legal Centre Inc.
Advance Directives Research Project
The Mental Health Legal Centre (MHLC) is conducting a multi-stage research project on advance directives for mental health with Victorian consumers and mental health clinicians through interviews and focus-group discussions.
What is an advance directive?
Advance directives for mental health are documents driven by the consumer which typically contain special information outlining for example:
- the person's unique circumstances
- preferences regarding treatment choices, and
- practical life management arrangements (eg. care of children, pets, accommodation, employment).
An advance directive outlines the steps to be taken to provide optimal support and care for a person with a mental illness, for example in the event they experience a mental health crisis. The document is drafted by the person when they are well and retain decision-making capacity.
The documents are not legally enforceable in Victoria, however, they can make a significant contribution to the wellbeing of people living with a psychiatric disability.
See also the MHLC's background article on advance directives, 'Why write an advance directive?' and the MHLC's Advance Directive Form (pdf), or use the links on the left of this page.
The MHLC's research on advance directives
With funding from the Reichstein Foundation, the MHLC initially conducted research with mental health consumers. Subsequently, with funding from the Legal Services Board of Victoria, the MHLC is conducting further research to gauge clinicians' views on advance directives - their production, use, utility and implementation - and to explore the opportunities and challenges presented by such documents. The Clinicians' Consultation Project, entitled 'Planning for community wellbeing: Developing statements of wishes for people living with mental illness' has ethics approval from the Victorian Department of Human Services Human Research Ethics Committee.
Further Information (pdf) - information for clinicians about the clinicians' consultation on advance directives
The reports on these research projects are currently being finalised.
Articles and presentations on advance directives
The following articles and presentations by MHLC draw on our research and law reform work on advance directives.
- Advance directives - New Paradigm article (pdf) (Autumn 2008)
- Defending autonomy & self determination - Health Issues Journal article (pdf) (Summer 2009)
- Advance directives - consumer perspective article HIJ (pdf) (Summer 2009)
- ADs & consumer participation in treatment planning - presentation (ppt) (August 2010)
For further information, contact: Catherine Leslie, Lawyer / Policy Officer at the MHLC
Tel: 9629 4422 or email: catherine.leslie@mhlc.org.au (Days: Mon, Wed, Thurs)
Please note Catherine's new email address as of 18 July 2011.
