Quote:
Originally Posted by genuinegirly
Your friend is an adult. His medical records are private and should remain so.
Telling his parents may not be necessary or beneficial. If they are controlling or abusive in any way, this could become a bad situation. Perhaps the perceived distance between his family and you is the reason why he contacted you and not another friend.
Informing his school - really? What are they going to do? Universities should not be in the habit of policing substance abuse problems.
Your friend is an adult. He needs to be treated as one. You need to speak with your friend and tell him that you are concerned. That's it. Inform him of the services available to him. If you look into exactly what is available to him at his university within walking distance, and make things seem very easy, then he's more likely to do something about it. If you really see the need to spread the news to all friends and family, go for it. If he has anything like my background, he probably won't confide in you anymore if you choose that path.
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You are most certainly entitled to your opinion as everyone else is. I must correct one item. The friend's health records are private as required by law. However, if a friend tells me something(in my case outside of work during a professional discussion) that is not a health record. If I tell you I have some god-awful disease it would be appropriate for you to not discuss my situation without my permission under most circumstances. You are not legally bound to do so as that is not a legal health record. Even under HIPAA laws there are loopholes that allow release of personal information if it involves a serious risk of health or safety to that person or the public.
I realize that you have your opinion on suicide and I can respect the notion that people in certain circumstances should have the right to die. When someone sends a message indicating that they may be putting themself at risk, I see that as a cry out for help.