Fourth Edition, September 2011

cases, I will have to share what you tell me to ensure your safety and the safety of others.“
There are diff erent rules about confi dentiality, depending on to whom the young person is talking. If a 
young person identifi es that they have a mental health problem that they don’t want their parent(s)/
guardian to know about, the rules will be diff erent depending on the professional they approach.
For instance, if they go to a hospital or family physician, and request that their problem not be shared 
with their parents, that request will be honoured. A young person has the right to seek health services 
without their parents’ knowledge or permission at any age, if they are judged to be competent to make 
that decision. Most health professionals will discuss the value of including parents in solving problems, 
but ultimately, it is the young person’s decision.
If that young person turns to a CAS worker or a children’s mental health agency about that same problem, 
then a diff erent set of rules apply. A young person age 12 years and older may seek counselling services 
from a child or family agency funded under the Child and Family Services Act, without their parents’ 
knowledge or permission. These include children’s mental health centres, child welfare agencies, and 
family service organizations. Again, most of these agencies will discuss the value of involving parents to 
solve problems.
Finally, if they bring that same problem to an educator or other member of the school team, another 
set of rules may apply. Young persons under the age of 18 must have their parents’ permission to seek 
counselling services, psychological assessment, or communication services from a Board of Education. 
The exception to this is if that young person has signed a declaration that they are no longer under the 
control of their parents.
All of these professionals have the same duty and obligation to report concerns about abuse or potential 
for harm to the young person or others.
Many Boards have established protocols with community organizations that spell out the circumstances 
and legislation that govern information sharing. An example of these protocols is included in Appendix One.

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K 7
Talking about Mental Health Problems
Making a Diff erence: An Educators’ Guide to Child and Youth Mental Health Problems
www.cymhin.ca