All information concerning clients, former clients, our staff, volunteers, financial data and business records of Mental Health Minnesota is confidential. All information pertaining to clients (which include any individual(s) seeking information, services, or support provided by Mental Health Minnesota) shall be held as confidential by organizational staff and volunteers.

“Confidential” means that you are free to talk about Mental Health Minnesota, your program, your position or your relationship/interaction with the organization, but you are not permitted to disclose the names or talk about clients served by the organization in ways that will make their identity known (ex. describing a specific interaction). No information may be released without appropriate authorization except in the case of a lifesaving emergency. This is a basic component of client care and business ethics. The board of directors, staff and our clients rely on paid and volunteer staff to conform to this rule of confidentiality.

Mental Health Minnesota expects you to respect the privacy of clients and to maintain their personal and financial information as confidential. All records dealing with specific clients must be treated as confidential. Staff members are also responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of information relating to other staff members and volunteers, in addition to clients.

Failure to maintain confidentiality may result in termination of your employment or your volunteer role or other corrective action. This policy is intended to protect you as well as Mental Health Minnesota because, in extreme cases, violations of this policy also may result in personal liability.

Visitors and guests to the Mental Health Minnesota office are expected to adhere to the organization’s confidentiality policy, and may be asked to sign the confidentiality policy before or during their visit.