1. student182001, June 24, 2010:

   In most cases the police. The authorities will then take the person to a behavioral center. The person will be under a mandatory watch from 24 – 72 hours.

2. starrynight, June 24, 2010:

   They’ll do EVERYTHING to talk you out of it. From what I know around my area, they might tell authorities too not because they want to arrest you or anything of that matter but they want to get you some serious help. And no, they won’t tell your parents since you’re an adult.

   And please, don’t kill yourself! “Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.” There’s other ways out of it no matter what.

3. Yaya, June 24, 2010:

   This is one of two exceptions to the privacy rules. (The other is when you want to kill others.)

   Most likely, you will go into the hospital and talk to therapists for a few days (no more than 72 hours).

   They CANNOT tell your parents; you’re over the age of consent.

   Please allow yourself to be hospitalized for a few days; there is help available to help you through this time.

   Whatever you do, don’t kill youself. You’ll just have to come back and do it all over again but it will be 100 times worse next time! Work through it once and for all.

   Good luck to you!

4. michele, June 24, 2010:

   Your psychologist will assess you. If he/she believes you are indeed in imminent danger (i.e., have means and intent), he/she must take steps to ensure your safety. If, however, you are reporting suicidal ideation (you THINK about suicide, but do not intend to act), he/she may simply request you sign a no-harm contract and help you construct a safety plan.

   If your psychologist does believe you are in imminent danger, in the vast majority of cases, that means hospitalization. Unfortunately, if you choose not to sign yourself in voluntarily, psychologists in most states can and will hospitalize you involuntarily.

   In addition, all bets are off, confidentiality wise, when it comes to suicide. Psychologists can (and will) alert parents (or other parties) IF that is the only means of immediately assuring your safety (e.g., you call your psychologist on the phone, tell them you are at your parents home in your room and plan to kill yourself). This is not an ethical violation, it is an ethical MANDATE.

   ~Dr. B.~

5. Hatshepsut, June 24, 2010:

   They can’t tell your family or employer, etc. They can and will only share the information if they are convinced that is the case as plenty say it and don’t mean it. They will discuss it in order to have you protected from yourself. That is a requirement for them. For example, if you need to be protected from yourself and there is imminent danger, and you refuse to get the proper help, they can go through the courts to have you committed. That’s worse case scenario but I’m trying to get across that they will only tell those who are in a position (professionally) to help you. Doctors need patient consent for a person over 18 years of age.

6. Not alright..., June 24, 2010:

   Since you’re an adult they won’t tell your parents but if you were under 14 they’d have to report it, and if you were under 18 they might report it. They shouldn’t report this because it violates privacy.

7. rsavedin70, June 24, 2010:

   If they think your going to seriously harm yourself or others, they definately can have you locked up in a mental health facility for 2 to 3 days to observe you to try to stop you from thinking like that.

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