Peer involvement in the mental health system has been increasing in the past several years. A number of us, paid or volunteer, have recovered enough from our illnesses to start or resume a working lifestyle. When employed in the mental health system, we must maintain peer mental health service recipient confidentiality.

I was speaking with a friend the other day when he mentioned the name of someone I have spoken with on the Buffalo Peer Support Phone Line (Warm Line). He was saying things about this person and I quickly realized that if I said anything I might breach confidentiality. I didn’t even want to say that this person called the Warm Line. So, I said I didn’t know her very well and then changed the topic of conversation. The situation with the Warm Line even affects me in psychotherapy because I have to respect the confidentiality of the caller.

There is also a friend of a friend who works for a mental health agency. I assume he has access to my mental health file. I just have to trust that the file will not be shared. Nothing has come back to me so far.

Another area of responsibility is being a member of a board of directors. From time to time legal matters have come up and confidentiality imposed. This question of protecting confidentiality was asked of me on the interview to be on the board and I had to promise not to breech it when imposed. Friends have asked me directly about ongoing cases and I had to tell them I couldn’t breech confidentiality.

Of course in the clubhouses the staff must keep information about clients (members) confidential. While I am committed to confidentiality in board meetings, I am not obligated to maintain confidentiality among members (I am also a member). I do not have access to member records. But if a member asks me to keep something private, I do. Having paranoid schizophrenia myself, I know how important confidentiality is. In a hyper alert state, I have heard things on the television which I thought were related to me. Even in meetings I am sometimes paranoid about things that are said. On a couple occasions I have seen confidential information accidentally in the staff office. The staff is required to protect member confidentiality. When I have seen these errors, I have reported them to upper management, while keeping the information to myself. Indeed, I did not read the entire document, but only read enough to accurately report the incident. Confidentiality is of paramount importance.

When I was a Peer Advocate Specialist several years ago, confidentiality was a large issue. I kept key information regarding consumers in my head as well as written in case notes. ?DN] Whenever it was necessary to speak on the consumer’s behalf to any other organization or business, I needed to have a release from the consumer. Of course, I kept the information divulged to an absolute minimum. Other times I received confidential information about consumers from supervisors. This information also had to be kept confidential.

Since I know so many consumers in Buffalo, it is a challenge for me to be a Warm Line Counselor and an editor for Mental Health World Journal. I keep confidential information to myself and would never release it. I have been ostracized several times and would never want to see it happen to someone else under any circumstances.

The last thing I want to tell the reader about is that the confidentiality of psychiatric records is governed by state law. This confidentiality is not absolute and under rare circumstances a judge can order confidential files unsealed. Additionally, the new Kendra’s law requires that clinics and other agencies licensed by the Department of Mental Health turn over their files to the county directors of outpatient commitment if these records are requested.

It is important to maintain confidentiality in all situations. Whether with friends or in a counseling relationship, it is important to maintain trust. Please remember, what goes around comes around. Don’t let it happen to anyone.