Respecting Privacy While You Support Someone

Privacy belongs to the person who has shared something with you, not to you as the person they told. Deciding who else should know, if anyone at all, is entirely their choice to make and theirs alone to change over time. It helps someone feel less alone, even in a brief exchange. It matters more than any perfectly chosen words ever could on their own.

Even with good intentions, sharing details with others without asking first can feel like a second loss of control for someone already navigating something difficult. Always ask before passing anything on, however small it may seem to you. It can mean more to someone than you might ever realise at the time.

If you are unsure where the line sits in a particular situation, support services can help you think it through carefully and calmly. 1800RESPECT is on 1800 737 732, and Lifeline is on 13 11 14, any hour of the day. It is always worth reaching out, even just to talk something through.