Who can I turn to? Confidentiality and young people

Examines why young people choose to speak to their friends about sex and personal relationships rather than to people who they think would give them more accurate information. Suggests that young people, and those professionals who care for them, are unclear as to the meaning of “confidentiality”. Concludes that this term means different things to different professional groups. Believes that schools, colleges and youth clubs should have their own policies on confidentiality, and that the contents of the policies should be made clear to young people before they have a need to disclose information, so that they are made aware of the potential consequences of confidential disclosures.