Confidentiality of seeing a Psychologist or receiving a Mental Health Plan from your GP

[hannibambo]

Hi,

So I am wanting to see a GP to ask for a Mental Health Plan to see a psychologist. Some people have told me that this can actually be a burden because it can affect things like life insurance, adoption, IVF and even getting a job. Can someone tell me if this is true? I am wanting to go ahead with it, but if it is going to affect me negatively in the future I might not do this.

Thanks

[PamelaR]

Hello hannibambo

It's good to see you have found your way to the Beyond Blue forums. People on these forums are very supportive and the BB has many factual pieces of information on it's homepage.

Being worried about your information being shared with others, especially life insurance, adoption, IVF is a legitimate concern.

The good thing is, the information contained in your Mental Health Plan is managed according to legislation. The federal government has a Mental Health Act as does each Australian state.

The legislation requires all health care professionals, including doctors, psychiatrists and nurses, to understand and follow these laws. Generally they should only use your mental health information for what it was collected for (e.g. your treatment and care). Sometimes the law says it is ok to disclose information. This includes when:

1. It is done with your consent. So this information cannot be given to others, e.g. life insurance company, adoption and IVF services unless you say so. It might be useful to find out if these particular areas required such information. Each company and service may differ in their requirements. I personally wouldn't let this stop myself from proceeding with getting a MHP.(I've been on one for years) Maybe there are some others on the forum who've had experience in this area and can share their experience.
2. Your treating team discusses your treatment with each other
3. It is to prevent harm to you or another person

Health services need to share information as part of your ongoing treatment.
For example, when your GP has to contact a mental health service.Even if health services are allowed to give out your information, this does not mean your life is an open book. Staff should only disclose information on a strictly ‘need to know’basis. This means they are not allowed to discuss you with people who are not involved in your treatment, such as their friends or family. It could be a breach of confidentiality if your personal information is disclosed to someone else during a conversation that is overheard.

Kind regards

PamelaR

[Croix]

Dear Hannibambo~

I think this is something many people are worried about as it could make a pretty big different to one's life if one's whole medical history was made public. This does not just apply to mental health of course. The examples you gave are quite correct, insurance, jobs etc can indeed be affected.

PamelaR has given you a pretty detailed account of the way things work, and while there is no absolute guarantee your history won't become known, I'd hope the chances are pretty good nothing will go wrong. Blind chance can take over of course, you may for example be recognized by someone you know in a waiting room. This happened to me but ironically it was the other person who was unhappy at the meeting.

I guess it is a question of weighing up your needs against the possibility that something adverse might happen in the future. I would not think anybody would seek a MH Plan unless things in their life were seriously wrong and therapy was the way to go.

Croix

[geoff]

Hi Hannibambo, welcome to the site.

What Pamela says is right, but can I mention that taking out Life insurance is tricky because you will have to tell the insurance company whether or not you have had depression, had any attempts, when and how do you feel now, because if you don't tell them then the policy won't be honoured.

The company will go searching if something does happen, and try and find out anything you didn't tell them when taking out the policy so the claim will be denied.

With applying for a job, there has always been the question of whether or not to say on the application form if you have had depression, my answer is no, others may disagree, but I would keep it to yourself, and not disclose it.

Your health must come first, that's paramount. Geoff.