Mention suicide on intake forms?

[Rose White]

Going to start couples counseling on Monday. There were a bunch of forms to fill out about my past. There were specific questions about suicide attempts—dates and method—as well as suicidal thoughts. I wonder if I should not talk about my suicide attempts on paper because of insurance companies possibly labeling me? There is a good chance we will be separating and I will lose insurance through my husband’s work. If I have suicide or depression (my T said she is extremely cautious using “the D word”) on my therapy intake forms could that haunt me when I try to get new insurance? The old “good girl” in me is compulsively honest, but my new stronger part is trying to protect myself.

 

[Justmehere]

You can skip the question entirely and explain to the therapist why verbally.

If you are in the US, as things stand now, insurance companies can’t deny coverage or penalize for having a pre-existing mental health condition. (https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage/pre-existing-conditions/)

Such laws could change though. It’s wise to be careful.

 

[Friday]

The old “good girl” in me is compulsively honest, but my new stronger part is trying to protect myself.

Just because someone asks does not mean they have the right to the answer.

“You don’t have to lie, but you don’t have to run around shouting the truth, either.”

If your individual therapist -who only has your best interests in mind- is quite cautious about what information they put in writing, I think following their example -or even taking the intake with you to therapy for help in learning to practice advocacy & discretion- would be wise.

 

[EveHarrington]

Me? Personally? I’d leave the suicidal stuff out given that it’s couples counseling. Were you even with your current partner when you made those attempts? Did the attempts have an effect on your relationship?

 

[Justmehere]

I frankly just put my name address and billing info on intake forms, and that’s pretty much it. I have yet to encounter a single therapist (or doctor for that matter) who actually reads through an intake form before asking all the questions verbally anyhow. When they go through history verbally, then I explain any hesitancy. I am not sure I’d recommend this approach or not, but I have yet to encounter any doc or therapist who considered this breaking any rules.

 

[Rose White]

I sent in the forms today with the suicide section left blank. I keep thinking about what @EveHarrington said. The attempts happened before I knew my husband. They are not the reason we are going to therapy—it’s because my husband is unable to support me during my recovery from csa. Also because husband wants to ask her why we can’t go back to the way things were when they were good.

I asked to use the shredder at work for the intake forms I had already filled out. It felt great to shred them.

I’m not sure if I should mention it if she asks? Maybe touch on it? But say I want it off the record?