<p>To Bob Smith. I am a psychiatrist in Rhode Island. It may help you to know that, based on my thirty years experience, it is my opinion that the mental health laws do not prohibit a mental health professional from breaking confidentiality if the patient is at risk to herself or others. In fact, it is just the opposite. As I understand the ethics and the law, the mental health professional is obliged to inform and warn the family (especially if the patient is only 18 years old)if the patient is of danger to self or others. I am not an attorney so I cannot say with absolute certainty, but I am fairly certain about this. Perhaps you may gain some solace by consulting a health care attorney and a psychiatrist on this matter. Most psychiatrists would be very critical of a doctor who did not inform the parents of an 18 year old if she were of danger to self or others or at the very least try very very hard to get the patient to give them permission to tell you how she is doing. Perhaps this can be of some solace to you in that it may mean that the health care providers at her school do not consider your daughter at risk to self or others. It must be very hard for you. Above all, I agree with the previous post that you get yourself to the college asap to judge for yourself.</p>