Legally obligated or not?

[Megson]

If you go to a school counselor or a teacher about cutting, are they legally obligated to tell your parents/guardians?

If so, is there anyone you CAN go to about cutting where its confidential?

[anonymous53]

In my school district they are obligated to tell your parents. You could try a free clinic with therapists.

[PartyPoison]

I think there are like loopholes to it, my friend made me talk to one of the school consulers about it but we like never directly said that I cut or self harm. I don't know o__o it was weird. Maybe you can go to your consuler an ask

"If I have a friend that cuts and they want to talk to you can they talk with out their parents being told?"

[Kiss]

I think it's when you are under 16 that they have to tell your parents/guardians if you or anyone else is hurting you or if you are hurting people around you.
I think if you go to anyone in school they will most likely tell your parents/guardians, unless it's someone like a friend who can't give you the same help as your school counselor or nurse, but even they might tell. I think your parents should know though, you can't get proper help without their consent. Good luck anyway :)

[SinisterMystery]

My school is completely confidential unless my life is in danger. I think that if you ask them not to tell your parents they can't.

[Dimitri]

Until you are 18 they are obligated to tell

[bambino]

In my experience, they're not allowed to tell unless you're a serious risk to yourself. Like Sinistermystery has said.
is there anyway you can look into the confidentiality procedures? The mental health service I go to gave me a stackload of leaflets on it

[Kaius]

It depends where you live etc. But from what I know they're only obligated to tell your parents when or if they have reason to believe there's a serious risk to your own or anothers health.

[Amaryllis]

I don't think they're legally obligated unless you were SERIOUSLY harming yourself. If you cut really deep and there was a chance of death.

[Weeping]

It depends on where you live, but I think most likely it's like people have already said;
They have to tell if they think that you're a serious danger for yourself or people around you.

[dontcare97]

Usually they are legally obligated to tell your parents. But if you put a note on their desk or give them an anonymous email, you can communicate with them.

[xXl0sth0peXx]

It's probably been said already, but it really depends on where you are.
I know that where I live, anyone I tell isn't obligated to tell unless my life is threatened, since I'm over 14.

Check out what your state laws are first. If they say they're going to tell your parents, you can use the law to your advantage. Cutting isn't threatening your life directly, so as long as your state laws allow adults to keep mental health from your parents, you should be good.

Good Luck<3

[Aubrie]

I live in Ohio as well. I talked to my counselor and she said she is not obligated unless my life is in danger (i.e. planning suicide) or I'm planning to hurt someone else.

[georgiamay]

For me, they do have to, whether my life is in direct danger or not. And theoretically, by self harming you are putting your life in danger. It might be extreme, but it does happen.

Again, it depends on where you are. I also think it depends on the school as well, because I've heard a lot of people that don't live that far from me that have told a teacher about self harm and their parents weren't told.