Confidentiality Issues

People who work with youth in Canada are governed by provincial Child Welfare Acts in conjunction with codes of conduct for specific professions.

Guidelines for confidentiality

It may be ethically and legally necessary to breach confidentiality when there is:

Serious risk of suicide or harm to others.
Knowledge of a child who needs protection (e.g. due to abuse or neglect).
Required disclosure of confidential information by law (e.g. subpoena of a file).

Determining standards of care and liability

Become informed about your legal and professional responsibility by knowing:

Provincial laws, e.g. provincial Child Welfare Act.
Employer guidelines or professional organization protocol - Suicide protocol might include specific details related to duty of care, including confidentiality, crisis procedures, reporting and documentation.

Research the situation before you plan your course of action. The legal and confidentiality issues should not impede your ability to act. A person's safety is the first concern and generally overrides all others. If uncertain, seek legal counsel.

Professional organizations and government ministries

Note: each link listed below opens in a new browser.

◊ Alberta Government
◊ Alberta Association of Registered Nurses
◊ Alberta Children's Services
◊ Alberta College of Social Workers
◊ Alberta Education
◊ Alberta Medical Association
◊ Alberta Teachers Association
◊ Psychologists´ Association of Alberta
◊ Canadian Psychological Association
◊ Canadian Counselling Association
◊ Canadian Psychiatric Association
◊ Government of Canada, Department of Justice
◊ Government of Canada, Provinces and Territories