A person with a duty of confidentiality must not tell anyone else about what you have shared with them. Typically, for example, doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, and clergy have a duty of confidentiality.

But there are often limits. If you are under age 15, then a doctor or psychologist must speak to your parents (if they have custody).

Remember that your thoughts and actions are two different things. The doctor or psychologist will therefore examine whether there is a risk that you are acting on your thoughts. If there is a danger of you doing so, then the doctor must break their duty of confidentiality to help you and protect children. The doctor or psychologist is not obliged to break their duty of confidentiality just because you tell them about general thoughts about children.

Read more about what you can do if you would like to talk to a doctor or psychologist about your thoughts.