I tend to keep my copy right in my overnight bag if I think I am getting near a crisis. However, I also have emphasized time and again with my husband how I have to have it. I also made sure my case manager (social worker person) has a copy and the hospital I tend to go to has a copy. I am so afraid of being (inadvertenty so far as staff are concerned) abused in the mental ward (lots of PTSD sex abuse issues) that I am really paranoid. The hospital personnel never read it unless you make them. I had this problem twice already, at a state hospital and a private hospital. I even asked them to read it.

A couple of thoughts, although by no means fool-proof: (1) Carry a wallet card that says you have a health care directive (you don't need to specify 'mental health directive' or 'psychiatric advance directive" if you're not comfortable) and in the event of any emergency or hospitalization, please contact...then list your health care agent w/ contact info. You may want to list a back-up contact who would have access to a copy of the PAD or DPOA, as well, just in case. (2) List your mental health agent as one of your emergency contacts at all your doctors' offices, including primary care, mental health provider, and any specialists' you might see.

Medic Alert now has a MedicAlert Gold product which allows you to store records and documents. I think this would be a great place to file your advance directive and have it noted on your medic alert bracelet.