Will it be confidential if I talk to Mental Health and Wellbeing?

The Mental Health and Wellbeing (MHWB) Team respects you, your privacy and your confidentiality. Our advisors keep written records of student appointments which are held on a secure database; the records are essential to ensure we are able to provide appropriate support to you.

Your MHWB record will be kept for 5 years after you leave LSBU or for 1 year if you apply but do not come to study at LSBU. Any information you give us is strictly confidential within our service. We do not pass on personal information about you to anyone outside the service (such as course team or placement staff).

The exceptions to this rule are:

1. Where you give us informed consent to disclose information within or external to the university; such as liaising with another support service within LSBU, your course team, your GP or Community Mental Health Teams.
2. If you share information with us that leads us to believe that you, or someone else, is at serious risk of harm, we may take steps to minimise this danger. Any action would usually be discussed with you first. It is important to emphasise that no one will be told who does not need to know.
3. If you become very unwell or are admitted to hospital as a result of your mental health we will inform your school and if you live in university accommodation, your halls team, to ensure they are aware of the reason for your absence. The information shared will be minimal and on a need to know basis to ensure that you receive sensitive support when you return to university.
4. Where we have a statutory obligation to break confidentiality or are permitted to do so under the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) Concerns about safety on your course: If you are training to be a health or social care professional or teacher the University also has a duty of care to the members of the public. In exceptional circumstances, where a mental health and wellbeing advisor feels that the difficulties you are experiencing could impact on people in your care we would follow an agreed protocol with the relevant school to enable you to access additional and appropriate support which may include a referral to occupational health. You would be included in and supported through this process wherever possible.