Can any professional break confidentiality and tell your relatives about your mental health problems if they are concerned? (Except in situations where people are sectioned).
Like, what is the likely outcome if you confided in a mental health professional about suicide plans?
Are they likely to tell your family/spouse?
Surely, if that’s the case and they will break confidentially if they feel it's in your best interests, then it would be best not to confide in them in the first place?
'You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice'
I don't know about the legalities, actually. But it certainly depends on your age; if you're under 18 there's a bigger risk they'll inform your parents. At the age of 22, I had a firm suicide plan with date/means etc, and the professionals knew for about 2 months, but they never contacted my parents; they arranged to have me admitted to hospital eventually instead. They would have sectioned me if I hadn't gone 'voluntarily'. So what I'm saying is, if I'd been sectioned, my parents would have found out anyway - they just didn't want to essentially break confidentiality, even in serious circumstances.
Can I ask why you're reluctant for your parents to know how you're feeling?
That's pretty much what I thought. Thank you for replying.
Im 90% sure of what im going to do. I dont see the point in telling someone - because it is not going to help me for them to tell anyone - that would make my situation 10000x worse, so therefore there is no point in me telling them the truth and my plans, if they are only going to make the situation worse.
It was a long-shot on my part, thinking that someone might be able to help!
'You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice'
It was a long-shot on my part, thinking that someone might be able to help!
There is always a chance that someone could help. It may be that a professional or someone else is able to provide an alternative perspective or option that you have not considered, or viewed as an option.
Please do try to look for all these alternatives and keep reaching out. I am of the belief that even a section is worth trying, before a plan of suicide. It may well be the thing that helps.
How can you know for certain things would be worse otherwise?
Roiben x
If the Human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we wouldn't.
Like the others have said, it depends. My parents do not know about my diagnosis, and I dont want the professionals to tell them. My CPN told me that if I did get sectioned then my parents would know, or if I was to disappear or generally be uncontactable, if they knew I was serious about suicide.
I have told my CPN/psych about my suicide plans and at the moment because I am still talking to them, and attending appointments, then they have said nothing to my parents. However, if things did get worse on that part, then hospital may be an option. Even then unless I was sectioned, my parents would not be told why I was there, unless I specifically requested.
However I am a vet, and like someone else said, things are different if you are under 18.
Last edited by not_so_insig : 02-05-2011 at 09:32 AM.
Reason: pressed enter originally too early - only typed in half a sentence!
Wannabe CPN : -)
"He who is tired of Weird Al is tired of life." - Homer Simpson "I hear those voices that will not be drowned" Sanity is a nasty disease. The world would be a happier place without it. - Rilic
RIP Kat 4th July 1987- 11th June 2013
When I was under 18, my psych was requiered to tell my care-giver. I still see her and now am an adult (sorta) and she stills says she will call my care-giver/mom if she thinks I am a risk... I dont think shes aloud to do that, but maybe its the relationship I have with her also..
a helping professional (doctor, therapist, psychiatrist) that is bound by a confidentiality agreement between them and their clients has the duty of care to breach that agreement regardless of the age of the individual if they have concrete reasoning to believe that their client is going to endanger themselves and/or someone else severely. Generally speaking if you are over 18 you would be asked to give an emergency contact that in the event someone could be called if this is not provided, depending on the situation, they may be able to discuss with you in the moment contacting someone together that you feel comfortable with, and/or they may contact emergency services. its not a matter of "telling on you" at all, its an effort to expand your support network in a helpful way that can assist you in gettng the help that you need.
life isn't about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself.
i was scared to tell my parents when i was diagnosed with depression. My mum found the pills i was taking and now that she knows things are sort of easier because i dont have to hide so much from her now.
think about talking to your parents. or try writing them a letter if you dont feel like talking :)
