This booklet supports individuals to talk about their wishes for care and treatment with their family, friends and doctor.

Brief guidance on Court appointed deputies and independent mental capacity advocates.

Background: The use of advance care planning and advance decisions for psychiatric care is growing. However, there is limited guidance on clinical management when a patient presents with suicidal behaviour and an advance decision and no systematic reviews of the extant literature. Objectives: To synthesise existing literature on the management of advance decisions and suicidal behaviour. Design: A systematic search of seven bibliographic databases was conducted to identify studies relating to advance decisions and suicidal behaviour. Studies on terminal illness or end-of-life care were excluded to focus on the use of advance decisions in the context of suicidal behaviour. A textual synthesis of data was conducted, and themes were identified by using an adapted thematic framework analysis approach. Results: Overall 634 articles were identified, of which 35 were retained for full text screening. Fifteen relevant articles were identified following screening. Those articles pertained to actual clinical cases or fictional scenarios. Clinical practice and rationale for management decisions varied. Five themes were identified: (1) tension between patient autonomy and protecting a vulnerable person, (2) appropriateness of advance decisions for suicidal behaviour, (3) uncertainty about the application of legislation, (4) the length of time needed to consider all the evidence versus rapid decision-making for treatment and (5) importance of seeking support and sharing decision-making. Conclusions: Advance decisions present particular challenges for clinicians when associated with suicidal behaviour. Recommendations for practice and supervision for clinicians may help to reduce the variation in clinical practice.

This document contains the advance decision to refuse treatment form – the form sets out the situations in which individuals want to refuse medical treatment if they are unable to make or communicate that decision in the future; and guidance notes – this gives information to help people complete the form. The notes explain when an advance decision would be used and offers support to consider the wishes.

This factsheet provides essential information on advance decision, lasting power of attorney for health and welfare, and capacity.

The film looks at the five key principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA), and how these can be applied to the care planning process.

Webinar focuses on the application of the Mental Capacity Act to decisions around the initiation of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, along with practices concerning DNACPR.

A brief introduction to lasting power of attorney, how to use it and what it involves.

Future wishes form.

This leaflet briefly outlines the key aspects of the Mental Capacity Act, including advance planning, assessing capacity and best interests.

Statement form for advance decision to refuse treatment (A4). An advance decision allows a person over the age of 18 to refuse a specific treatment in the future when they lack the capacity to consent to, or refuse, that treatment.

A preferred priorities for care (PPC) statement form (A4), which patients can fill in to state their wishes and care preferences are for the last few months or year of their life.