system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
CMV: Mandated reporting is a terrible idea

I understand the principle behind mandated reporting. If someone, especially a kid or a teen, is planning on doing something that would hurt themselves or others, the person they are talking to should notify people who can help.

The problem is, this eliminates any trust between the patient and counselor, and eliminates the counselor as any sort is serious confidante. If the patient is having suicidal thoughts, they would be much more likely to withhold them if they knew the person they are talking to would be required to report them. We need to encourage discussions like these, not discourage them.

It seems infinitely better to develop trust between the counselor and patient instead of discouraging difficult discussions. The counselor could get help as they see fit.

You can change my view by showing that my understanding of mandated reporting is flawed, demonstrating why the reporting needs to be required, or by showing benefits of mandated reporting that aren’t initially obvious.
gpt
I don't think mandatory reporters have to report suicidal thoughts. They have to report child abuse. 

&nbsp;

> A mandated reporter is a person who, because of his or her profession, is legally required to report any suspicion of child abuse or neglect to the relevant authorities. 

&nbsp;

The above quote was from some generic social worker website, but even the California specific site only mentions abuse. Not sucide.