In releasing mental health treatment records, what is required?

• A. Informed consent for records
• B. Recordkeeping
• C. Quarterly progress reports
• D. Participant agreement restrictions

Answer: (A)

Confidentiality of mental health records requires that you obtain the client’s informed consent before releasing any identifiable information. This means a written, voluntary agreement that specifies what is being disclosed, to whom, for what purpose, and for how long the consent lasts. The client should understand the implications of disclosure and have the right to revoke consent at any time, within the limits of the law. There are situations where information can be released without consent (such as mandatory reporting or imminent risk), but those are exceptions. The key point is that, for a normal release of records, informed consent is the required step to protect privacy.