Service members’ communications with Chaplains and Religious Affairs Specialists are considered confidential and are protected from disclosure when those conversations 1) take place in a spiritual context and 2) are not intended to be shared with third parties.

Rule 503 of the Military Rules of Evidence states that communications made as a “formal act of religion or as a matter of conscience” to either a Chaplain or a Religious Affairs Specialist while serving in the capacity of spiritual advisor are considered confidential and are not to be shared with third parties. There are no exceptions listed to this rule, which means that any suicide-related information communicated to a Chaplain is protected as confidential. This confidentiality also applies to inquiries from the Command; Chaplains cannot be compelled by the Command to share information about Service members or others seeking their services.

With that said, if a suicidal Service member would like the Chaplain to reach out to healthcare providers, the Service member must first explicitly waive the right to confidentiality. After the right has been waived, the Chaplain may reach out to appropriate sources to initiate care for the Service member. For suicidal Service members who do not waive their rights to confidentiality, Chaplains work within the bounds of their profession to provide as much help as possible for the individuals.

Resource:

Psychological Health Center of Excellence - Chaplains and Confidentiality of Suicide-related Communication: Are There Limits?