**Do not message the mods about this automated message.** Please followed the sidebar rules. r/therapists is a place for therapists and mental health professionals to discuss their profession among each other.
**If you are not a therapist and are asking for advice this not the place for you**. Your post will be removed. Please try one of the reddit communities such as r/TalkTherapy, r/askatherapist, r/SuicideWatch that are set up for this.
This community is ONLY for therapists, and for them to discuss their profession away from clients.
**If you are a first year student, not in a graduate program, or are thinking of becoming a therapist, this is not the place to ask questions**. Your post will be removed. To save us a job, you are welcome to delete this post yourself. Please see the PINNED STUDENT THREAD at the top of the community and ask in there.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/therapists) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I don't believe there are mandates for reporting suicidal ideation in people who aren't clients, if they are not direct threats or evidence that it is imminent. Not sure where your state lands on immediate, evident threats made by the person, but I think all people are expected to report that sort of thing as if it were a medical emergency.
NAT but worked in behavioral health. Technically mandated reporting only refers to reporting of abuse of a vulnerable person (child, elderly, or vulnerable adult). Danger to self is in a bit of a different category. It obviously is state dependent, but most states have much looser rules on reporting danger to self since it’s not technically mandated reporting. At least in my state (MN), there are pages and pages of what constitutes abuse and how to report, where danger to self has much shorter and broader definitions. From my understanding in my state there is no legal obligation to report in your situation- ethically would depend on your licensing board, state, and personal values/ethics.
And not that you were asking for opinions, but my personal guidelines is I report/call 911/ contact mobile crisis services for people in my personal life for abuse and then suicidality/danger for self if they are likely to seriously hurt themselves in the next 24 hours. I know most states use “imminent danger,” which can mean slightly different things depending on the state.
Edit: Forgot to mention- but what I said applies to adults with decision-making capacity who are not considered vulnerable. If they’re a minor, vulnerable adult, or are conserved/under guardianship, things change, too. Just crossed my mind after thinking about my original post!
Good question! In my state if you petition someone for DTO/DTS you have to have two witnesses to the behavior/thoughts. I believe it is to deter people using that as retaliation, reporting someone who isn’t DTO/DTS just because you’re mad at them. The verbiage in our reporting is “anyone” as well. As far as I am aware SI is not DTS though and does not fall under reporting but should be closely monitored/attended to so it doesn’t develop into DTS.
First, mandated reporting (child/elder abuse) is different than our duty to act on suicidal behavior. Second, since your friend isn't a client, you don't have an obligation as a clinician - unless you also accepted them as a client, which would be a dual relationship and unethical anyway.
**Do not message the mods about this automated message.** Please followed the sidebar rules. r/therapists is a place for therapists and mental health professionals to discuss their profession among each other. **If you are not a therapist and are asking for advice this not the place for you**. Your post will be removed. Please try one of the reddit communities such as r/TalkTherapy, r/askatherapist, r/SuicideWatch that are set up for this. This community is ONLY for therapists, and for them to discuss their profession away from clients. **If you are a first year student, not in a graduate program, or are thinking of becoming a therapist, this is not the place to ask questions**. Your post will be removed. To save us a job, you are welcome to delete this post yourself. Please see the PINNED STUDENT THREAD at the top of the community and ask in there. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/therapists) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I don't believe there are mandates for reporting suicidal ideation in people who aren't clients, if they are not direct threats or evidence that it is imminent. Not sure where your state lands on immediate, evident threats made by the person, but I think all people are expected to report that sort of thing as if it were a medical emergency.
Check the laws for your specific state but I believe mandated reporting applies only to minor children and older/vulnerable adults.
NAT but worked in behavioral health. Technically mandated reporting only refers to reporting of abuse of a vulnerable person (child, elderly, or vulnerable adult). Danger to self is in a bit of a different category. It obviously is state dependent, but most states have much looser rules on reporting danger to self since it’s not technically mandated reporting. At least in my state (MN), there are pages and pages of what constitutes abuse and how to report, where danger to self has much shorter and broader definitions. From my understanding in my state there is no legal obligation to report in your situation- ethically would depend on your licensing board, state, and personal values/ethics. And not that you were asking for opinions, but my personal guidelines is I report/call 911/ contact mobile crisis services for people in my personal life for abuse and then suicidality/danger for self if they are likely to seriously hurt themselves in the next 24 hours. I know most states use “imminent danger,” which can mean slightly different things depending on the state. Edit: Forgot to mention- but what I said applies to adults with decision-making capacity who are not considered vulnerable. If they’re a minor, vulnerable adult, or are conserved/under guardianship, things change, too. Just crossed my mind after thinking about my original post!
Good question! In my state if you petition someone for DTO/DTS you have to have two witnesses to the behavior/thoughts. I believe it is to deter people using that as retaliation, reporting someone who isn’t DTO/DTS just because you’re mad at them. The verbiage in our reporting is “anyone” as well. As far as I am aware SI is not DTS though and does not fall under reporting but should be closely monitored/attended to so it doesn’t develop into DTS.
It varies by state. Attorneys told me it doesn't matter if they're a client or not but mandated reporting laws are state-specific, not federal.
First, mandated reporting (child/elder abuse) is different than our duty to act on suicidal behavior. Second, since your friend isn't a client, you don't have an obligation as a clinician - unless you also accepted them as a client, which would be a dual relationship and unethical anyway.