I voluntarily disclosed a recent episode where I was seriously considering CTB to a good friend, without considering that their work email (which we normally use to converse) is provided through their role within a UK-based private medical organisation. As a consequence of this, my friend felt that there was a professional responsibility to activate the internal safeguarding process to secure my safety from imminent danger and/or self-harm. This manifested into an excruciating phone call from my friend, conducted with their safeguarding manager sat alongside them, as they went through a "danger to self" assessment process. I was open & honest, doing my level best to reassure them that I was not in immediate danger (I'm not) and, to this end, I provided verbal consent for them to contact my GP and psychiatrist (I provided their contact details) to help reassure them that I am actively receiving treatment and support (I am).
I apologised profusely to my friend, recognising the difficult position that I had unintentionally placed them in, but I am now concerned that other disclosures - unrelated to self-harm or harm to others, but personal in nature & spread through emails exchanged over several years - might now inadvertently surface as part of (a) an investigation in their organisation and/or (b) enquiries made by my GP or psychiatrist in response to contact made with them. The possibility of unintended and unwanted disclosure of any number of very personal, private emails - for example - back to my partner and family is now filling me with fear and anxiety, despite my knowledge of their professional obligations around confidentiality.
I am thinking of writing another email to my friend, apologising for creating this unfortunate situation, but also intending to provide them with legally-sound reassurance that I am (a) competent to make my own decisions; (b) I wish to stop any further disclosures from their side; and (c) I am not a danger to myself or others. I have spent much of a (mainly sleepless) night reading documents such as the Mental Health Act (amended 2007); the Care Act (2014); the Mental Capacity Act (2005); the BMA's Adults at risk advice; and more, but I would welcome any recommendations as to the most watertight phrase(s) to use to help provide plausible and acceptable cover to avoid any further or unwanted disclosures.
I apologised profusely to my friend, recognising the difficult position that I had unintentionally placed them in, but I am now concerned that other disclosures - unrelated to self-harm or harm to others, but personal in nature & spread through emails exchanged over several years - might now inadvertently surface as part of (a) an investigation in their organisation and/or (b) enquiries made by my GP or psychiatrist in response to contact made with them. The possibility of unintended and unwanted disclosure of any number of very personal, private emails - for example - back to my partner and family is now filling me with fear and anxiety, despite my knowledge of their professional obligations around confidentiality.
I am thinking of writing another email to my friend, apologising for creating this unfortunate situation, but also intending to provide them with legally-sound reassurance that I am (a) competent to make my own decisions; (b) I wish to stop any further disclosures from their side; and (c) I am not a danger to myself or others. I have spent much of a (mainly sleepless) night reading documents such as the Mental Health Act (amended 2007); the Care Act (2014); the Mental Capacity Act (2005); the BMA's Adults at risk advice; and more, but I would welcome any recommendations as to the most watertight phrase(s) to use to help provide plausible and acceptable cover to avoid any further or unwanted disclosures.
