Can children or young people seek treatment without parental consent?

Typically, when children under the age of 18 require health or mental health services, a doctor seeks consent from their parents or legal guardians (Maslyanskaya & Alderman, 2019; McNary, 2014).(1) Parental consent not only ensures that parents know about the services their child is receiving, but also ensures that the services are helpful and effectively support treatment progress. However, in some cases, children, especially older ones Teenagers– He may wish to seek the services of a doctor without the knowledge or consent of the parents. These situations may arise when:

• There is an emergency and the parents are not immediately available (for example, a child has suicidal plans or other self-injurious behavior; the child has an acute episode of anxietyOr panic or distress);
• The child is embarrassed by a situation and does not want his parents to know about this concern (e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, TransgenderOr asking young people who have not come out to their parents and are afraid of their response; A young man has questions about safer Sex Or possible Pregnancy; or a young person who has problems with alcohol, drugs or the criminal justice system);
• Child experiences bullyingor abuse or neglect, but fear rejection or retaliation from their parents if they ask for help;
• Parents may not have health insurance coverage and cannot afford it to treat; or
• The child must be aware of societal, cultural, or religious aspects Stigma About mental health services and does not want to bring shame Or lack of family approval.

Each of these situations may require different approaches. This article explores the options available to children and young people who may have different reasons for seeking mental health services themselves.

Emergency services

When faced with children Suicidal thoughts, severe distress, or other urgent situations, they should be aware of services designed specifically for such situations. First, they can seek help from the National Emergency and Crisis Hotline by calling 988, texting 988, or chatting online at 988lifeline.org. These services are confidential and provided by trained counselors. These services do not require parental consent, although counselors can discuss whether it is possible and appropriate to notify parents as part of the assistance response.

In urgent situations involving medical emergencies, drug overdoses, weapons, or other threats of violence, youth can call 911. Operators on this number can dispatch police, ambulances, crisis response teams, or other first responders to assist with immediate threats of harm.

Sometimes, young people feel more comfortable turning to someone they already know and trust to help them in an urgent situation. This could be a family member, friend, teacher, coach, school social worker, doctor, or other professional with whom he or she has had prior contact. This person can provide immediate support, but may have to notify others if there are serious concerns, such as child abuse or neglect. Teachers, therapists, and other licensed professionals are mandated reporters, which means they must contact Child Protective Services regarding concerns of child abuse and neglect. Another valuable resource is the National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD/1-800-422-4453), which provides 24-hour crisis counseling, reporting guidance, and referrals to community services for ongoing help.

Services that may not require parental notification or consent

Children and young people should be aware of the help of professionals they can talk to, even if they do not want to notify their parents. Age requirements vary from state to state, with some states allowing children as young as 12 to consent to mental health services, while others set 18 as the age of consent. In some states, minors are allowed to see a counselor for a limited number of sessions without parental consent. They may also be allowed to see a counselor if they are considered a “mature minor.” A mature minor is someone under the age of 18 who shows sufficient maturity and understanding and may be permitted to consent to care, even though the person is under the age of ordinary consent. Consultation A List of consent laws in different states To learn more. Note that the age of consent may vary depending on the type of problem (for example, concerns about school issues, minor emotional problems, etc.). drugor miscarriage).

When in doubt, a child – or a trusted adult helping them – can contact a school counselor or other helping professional to see if they can seek help without parental notification or consent. In some school systems, for example, students can meet with a guidance counselor or social worker without parental consent. In other school systems, they may need notification or approval. In addition to asking about parental consent, it is also helpful to ask providers about confidentiality, including what types of information may need to be shared with parents or others (Chung et al., 2024).

Young people may also consider community programs that do not require parental involvement. For example, community centers for the LGBTQ+ community may have new youth groups. Religious communities and places of worship may have clergy provide pastoral counseling without notifying parents. Community centers may have drop-in centers for individual counseling and facilitated youth groups. Schools may have peer-to-peer mentoring, conflict resolution, psychoeducation groups, or wellness programs. Medical clinics may provide certain services to youth without parental consent. In non-emergency situations, youth can call 211 for referrals to appropriate services.

Online and AI-based help resources

Young people may use technology in different ways to help them with mental health problems and social issues. Chat software using artificial intelligence AI can be used to request information, engage in problem solving, or have supportive discussions. But general AI programs aren’t specifically geared toward providing services like crisis intervention and mental health counseling, so using these tools can be risky — especially in crisis situations. Some online tools have been created to address specific concerns, for example, apps that facilitate mediation and stress reduction, assistance with problem solving, information about specific concerns such as eating disorders, Alcohol abuse – Family problems and conflicts. Given the risk that AI tools may not provide accurate and appropriate feedback and guidance, they are not substitutes for professional mental health care (Clark, 2025). Even when a young person wants to use AI or other technology to get emotional support, it may be best to first consult with a mental health provider. This provider can suggest evidence-based programs and oversee their use to ensure young people receive appropriate feedback, information and support.

Some online services can connect youth with volunteers or trained mental health professionals, using text, video or in-person communications. The quality of online services varies greatly and can change over time. Again, it is important to know when online services may be helpful, and when it is important to seek the services of a licensed mental health professional.

conclusion

It can be very life Exhaustingespecially for children and young people who face challenges at home, school and with friends. It is important that young people receive different forms of support to help them cope with family conflicts and peer relationships, DatingBullying, distress, mental health issues, academic pressures and other issues may arise. Ideally, children and young people can share their concerns with their parents and make a joint decision about getting help from appropriate counselors or helping professionals. When children and young people have significant concerns that they do not initially want to pass on to their parents, it is also important that they know where and how they can get appropriate help without parental notification and consent.

(1) To simplify the discussion, the remainder of this blog refers to parents, but this term may include legal guardians such as adoptive parents or other family members who have legal responsibility for a minor.