Your confidentiality and privacy

What is Confidentiality?

Confidentiality means that certain information you share will be kept private and not shared with others without your permission. This is especially important when it comes to personal details, such as your feelings, experiences, or anything else that feels sensitive or private to you. For example, if you talk to a trusted adult—like a teacher, school counsellor, or doctor—they will generally keep your information private, unless they believe that someone (including you) is at risk or needs urgent help.

What is Privacy?

Privacy is your right to control your personal information and decide who has access to it. This includes your personal thoughts, your body, your space, and your online activity. For example, you have the right to decide who sees your phone, who has access to your social media accounts, and who knows details about your personal life. Your privacy is important because it helps protect you from unwanted attention and gives you control over your own life. It allows you to share things only with people you trust, when you feel comfortable doing so.

Why Does Confidentiality and Privacy Matter?

Confidentiality and privacy are essential for several reasons:

• Personal Safety: Keeping your private information safe can protect you from harm, especially if it’s sensitive or if it relates to personal experiences you might not want others to know about.
• Trust: When you know your information will be kept confidential, you are more likely to feel safe talking to trusted adults. This builds trust, which helps you get the support you need.
• Respect: Your privacy and confidentiality show that your feelings, experiences, and personal space are respected. You have the right to choose who knows about your life.
• Control: Having control over your own information helps you feel more in charge of your own life. It’s empowering to know that you can decide what others know about you.

When Does Confidentiality Have Limits?

In some situations, confidentiality may have limits. This means that a trusted adult, like a teacher, doctor, or counsellor, might have to share your information if they believe it’s necessary to protect your safety or the safety of others. Here are a few examples:

• If you or someone else is at risk: If a teacher or school counsellor learns that you are in danger or being hurt, they are legally required to share that information with people who can help, such as your parents or authorities.
• If you ask for help with a health concern: If you talk to a doctor about physical or mental health concerns, they may need to share information with other professionals to make sure you get the right care.
• If you share something about another person: If you talk to a trusted adult about someone else’s safety or wellbeing, they might need to share that information to keep that person safe.

Even though confidentiality can sometimes be broken, professionals will always explain why they need to share your information, and they will make sure that only the people who can help are informed.

What You Should Know About Your Rights

As a child or teenager, you have the right to privacy in many areas of your life, including:

• Your body: You have the right to decide who touches you and how.
• Your thoughts and feelings: You have the right to keep personal thoughts and feelings private.
• Your space: Whether it’s your bedroom, your phone, or your personal things, you have the right to have some privacy in your own space.
• Your online activity: You have the right to keep your online activity private, like the things you post on social media, the messages you send, and the websites you visit.

When Might Someone Break Your Privacy or Confidentiality?

While it’s important for people to respect your privacy, there are certain situations where it might be necessary for them to break confidentiality:

• If you’re in immediate danger: If someone knows that you’re in danger (for example, if you're being hurt or if you’re feeling suicidal), they must report it to someone who can help, even if it means breaking confidentiality.
• If you’ve asked for help and they need to involve others: Sometimes, professionals like counsellors or teachers need to talk to other people to make sure you get the help you need, like involving your parents, the police, or medical professionals.

If this happens, the person you’ve shared with should explain what’s happening and why your privacy needs to be broken. They will try to help you feel supported throughout the process.

How to Protect Your Privacy

You can take steps to protect your privacy every day. Here are some tips for keeping your personal information safe:

• Be careful with what you share online: Before you share anything online—whether it’s a photo, a message, or even a location—think about whether you feel comfortable with anyone seeing it. Remember, once something is online, it might not be able to be deleted.
• Keep your passwords safe: Don’t share your passwords with anyone, even friends. If you’re worried about your accounts being hacked, use strong, unique passwords.
• Set boundaries: Let others know if you’re not comfortable with them reading your messages or looking at your personal things.
• Use privacy settings: On social media and other online platforms, make sure your accounts are set to private so only people you trust can see what you post.

What to Do If Someone Breaks Your Privacy or Confidentiality

If someone has broken your privacy or confidentiality in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable, it’s important to talk to someone you trust about how you feel. This could be a teacher, family member, or a professional like a school counsellor. You can:

• Explain what happened and why it made you uncomfortable.
• Ask for help to understand why it happened.
• Discuss ways to make sure your privacy is protected moving forward.

Remember, you have the right to feel safe and respected in all your interactions, and it’s okay to speak up if something doesn’t feel right.

Key Takeaways

• Confidentiality means that your personal information will usually be kept private.
• Privacy means you have the right to control your personal information and decide who knows about it.
• Professionals like teachers and doctors will protect your privacy unless there’s a risk to your safety.
• You can protect your privacy by being careful with what you share online and setting boundaries with others.
• If someone breaks your privacy in a way that makes you uncomfortable, talk to someone you trust to get support.

Your privacy and confidentiality are important rights that help protect your safety and wellbeing. By understanding how they work, you can feel more empowered to take care of yourself and make sure your personal information stays safe.

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