psycologist not reporting

There was a case here in my hometown similar to this one (not sure about details, though).

The story was told to me by a mom's friend who knew the young boy's family..

There was a young man in his 17s that was seeing his psychologist for therapy for his sadness, loneliness, and so on.. They had been seeing each other for over a year and the woman knew him very well. They had a policy of privacy, which meant everything that was said in that office, could not come out to anyone. Well, one day, the boy said he had had enough and he wanted to kill himself. The psychologist talked to him about it and encouraged him to give up his idea. Still, when the boy left the office, the psychologist was aware that he would potentially kill himself since she had evaluated his suicidal thoughts before.

Based on this, and on the privacy policy that they had, should the psychologist be blamed for anything? Or was she just fulfilling the young boy's desire and the policy they had agreed on?


// I think she should somehow be blamed for one side, because she knew the boy was going to kill himself and didn't tell anyone. Above our professional career character, is our human character, and speaking out would only have helped the young man.

RIP. Since it was veridic. </3

Quoting ♥ inês:" There was a case here in my hometown similar to this one (not sure about details, though). The story ... [snip!] ... character, is our human character, and speaking out would only have helped the young man. RIP. Since it was veridic. </3"

She can lose her licence. Psychologist have to keep everything confidential but are mandated to report certain things. They MUST report if you are 1) a danger to yourself, 2) A danger to others, 3) abuse, and some say they will report if a child threatens to run away.

I don't think so. She could have tried to have him hospitalized. But if he said he wasn't or wasn't being serious about it then no. And no one knows exactly what was said aside from her or the paitent so we won't know.

What do you mean they had an agreement? Like an adult woman, with training, made an agreement with a teenage boy that she would break HIPPA for him and not report on his intentions to harm himself or others? I think she should lose her Liscence.

My sons psychologist told him patient/provider confidentiality ends if he says he wants to hurt himself or someone else. She should have put him on a psychiatric hold.

Its a tough call. As a counsellor myself, many patients come in and in frusteration say "I wish it was over, or I thought about killing myself" It is the therapists job to evaluate the severity of such claims because reporting on every such comment would risk the trust element.

Our Chaplin on base says all the time if you're in danger of hurting yourself he can't and wont tell anyone but that he's not going to let you leave without agreeing to get proper help either. I like that. Although Idk how practical it is... Could that be kidnapping or being held against your will or something?

Psychologists use the CSSRS to evaluate suicidal thoughts. There is a difference between thinking about suicide (many, many people do) and having intent for suicide. It's sad and I'm sure that she feels guilty. But no I don't think she should be held accountable just on the fact that he had suicidal thoughts. If he specifically told her was going to do it, then she should have reported it. Reports are only supposed to be made if the patient is an immediate threat to themselves or others. It's a thin line that many don't like to cross because of the risk of lawsuits.

Quoting ♥ inês:" There was a case here in my hometown similar to this one (not sure about details, though). The story ... [snip!] ... character, is our human character, and speaking out would only have helped the young man. RIP. Since it was veridic. </3"

as a psychology student,we learn it is in our disclosure when we start a counseling session that everything is private UNLESS you want to hurt yourself or someone else.... she should be blamed for some of this because she couldve told someone and gotten him more help! he shouldve been baker act'ed!!!

if you have any suicidal or homicidal thoughts that have to report it. A guy went to the local er and told them he wanted to kill his wife. 56 minutes later they just released him. 7 days later he choked and slit his 2 daughters throats then went to his wifes house broke her neck and slit her throat and set the house on fire. Went back to his house where his daughter's bodies were and set the house on fire. A neighbor pulled him out so his suicide attempt failed. The hospital is under investigation.

She was suppose to report it. He was going to cause himself harm which can be reported. As long as the info given is not something that us going to cause harm to the patient or others it shouldn't be shared but the minute he mentioned suicide that went out the window on that subject and that subject alone.

If you are in serious danger of hurting yourself or others they have to report it. But that is not to say every single time someone tells them they feel suicidal they have to report it. It is a severity that they have to weigh.

Quoting Mel & a girl named Pey:" She was suppose to report it. He was going to cause himself harm which can be reported. As long as the ... [snip!] ... it shouldn't be shared but the minute he mentioned suicide that went out the window on that subject and that subject alone."

It is not the minute suicide is mentioned, it is when the therapist believse that harm is the likely outcome. If, as OP stated he said he no longer felt that way when he left the office, I think she was justified

<blockquote><b>Quoting That-Girl:</b>" It is not the minute suicide is mentioned, it is when the therapist believse that harm is the likely ... [snip!] ... is the likely outcome. If, as OP stated he said he no longer felt that way when he left the office, I think she was justified"</blockquote>




That true!