Confidentiality Policy

It is the intention of Encouragemint to hold all personal information we may possess, such as that revolving around emotional issues and mental health conditions confidential. Therefore, should anybody question Encouragemint about your use of the site we would not provide any information about anything that you may have shared. We would, with a few exceptions noted below, simply refer them to this policy and explain that we cannot even confirm or deny that any particular individual has used or is using our services and/or website.

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Please keep in mind however that all information you voluntarily post online through our website such as, but not limited to, forum messages, images, and comments on articles are made publicly available and are thus accessible and viewable to anybody with access to the Internet. We are not responsible for holding information confidential that you have voluntarily posted. Consider also the possibility that even without using your real name, certain others may know your username and/or have access to emails sent to you from Encouragemint, such as for instance if you have a shared email address. Please see our Privacy Policy for details on how we use your personal information such as your email address (if provided to us).

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Given the nature of the content discussed via Encouragemint and through its services both online and off-line, Encouragemint and its personnel may at times be required by law to make certain discloses, if and when available, which may include sharing all or portions of your personal contact information, posted forum messages, emails, private messages, images uploaded, article comments posted, phone records, clinical notes, etc. This may occur in instances where there is discussion of suicidal behavior past or present, suicidal plans or intentions, discussion of homicidal behavior past or present, homicidal plans or intentions, suspected child abuse, child neglect, elder abuse, elder neglect, abuse or neglect of certain individuals deemed by law to be “vulnerable” adults, where there is a court subpoena or order for records, and any other instance in which Encouragemint, its officers, board members, staff, employees, contractors, volunteers, or other representatives would be required by law to file a report and/or otherwise disclose such information to the proper authorities, or to aid in their legal defense against a claim or lawsuit you may initiate.

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Encouragemint will openly share with the appropriate parties any information requested of us as documented herein and as required by law, but only in such instances. When required to do so, Encouragemint will act as soon as reasonably possible. However, we also aim not to share any additional confidential information above what is deemed necessary and/or relevant.

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By virtue of our primarily online presence, the voluntary nature of collected information, and the inherent anonymity of the internet we are not in a position to be able to prevent acts of self-harm or harm against others. Typically we will not have accessible to us the information that might be necessary to properly report instances of alleged or actual attempts of self-harm and/or harm to others, such as those described above. For instance, it is highly unlikely that we would have the home address and phone number of a person who posts a message threating to harm themselves.

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Should we have the necessary information and access to that information readily available in a timely and accessible manner, Encouragemint will act “in good faith”, which may necessitate the release of confidential, private, or personal information in order to attempt to prevent acts of personal harm. However, Encouragemint is not responsible for any such actions taken by others where we are not in a position or do not have the resources to reasonably intervene.

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Please be mindful that Encouragemint takes this responsibility seriously. It is never our desire to disclose personal information, though as described herein there are instances in which we must do so. We take all accusations, threats, claims, and otherwise very seriously and will treat all in an appropriate manner even if later retracted or claimed by someone to not be serious.