For professionals
Healthcare and rights.
Show students how to ask for healthcare, be heard and understand the rules governing information shared with parents.
Review preparation and follow-up guidance before teaching. Use fictional examples so students can explore the topics while keeping their personal experiences private. You can also print this page from your browser.
For 8–12 · Approximately 30 minutes
How do I ask for help?
What students will learn
- Describe a symptom or question in their own words.
- Understand the role of the school nurse.
- Know they may ask adults to explain what is happening.
Preparation
Find the actual opening hours and contact details of the school nurse. Prepare a fictional scenario about a student who is in pain and wants to ask for help.
Explain the topic to students
A school nurse is a nurse with additional training who helps children and teenagers with health. At school, you can ask about your body, feelings and things that are difficult. You can begin with what you have noticed or felt.
You have a right to explanations you can understand and to express your views. The school nurse should explain who may be told what you share. Parents are usually informed when you are under 16. If telling your parents something could be dangerous or extremely difficult for you, the school nurse must assess how to give you help and protection. This applies even if you are under 12. You can ask: 'Who will know what I tell you?'
Activities and teaching steps
1. Describe it with three questions · 10 minutes
Use: 'Where does the person feel it?', 'When does it happen?' and 'What would they like help with?' Ask students to create answers for the fictional scenario.
2. Watch a conversation · 10 minutes
Play the school nurse and read both roles, or ask a colleague to help. Demonstrate that a student can say: 'Could you explain that word?' and 'What happens now?' Explain that healthcare professionals assess whether others must be involved.
3. Find out how to get in touch · 10 minutes
Show the school nurse's name, location and contact details. Ask students to create a simple contact card for the fictional person. Also show whom students can contact on days when the school nurse is elsewhere.
Questions for reflection
- How can you begin describing what you experience?
- What can you ask if a word is difficult to understand?
- Who can help you get in touch?
Conclude the lesson
Write one conversation starter and one question about what happens next.
For 13–17 · Approximately 30 minutes
Confidentiality, participation and contact
What students will learn
- Explain the general rules before and after age 16.
- Understand that there are exceptions to the rules about informing parents.
- Prepare a request for healthcare.
Preparation
Have Helsenorge's page about healthcare rights and local contact information ready. Use fictional people aged 14 and 17. Focus on general rules and examples, and refer specific legal questions to appropriate professionals.
Explain the topic to students
Healthcare professionals have a duty of confidentiality. As a general rule, they must keep information about you private. When you are under 16, they should usually also inform those with parental responsibility. From 16, you generally make decisions about your own healthcare.
If you are between 12 and 16 and have reasons that should be respected, healthcare professionals must withhold information from your parents if you wish. They must also withhold information if compelling considerations for your welfare make informing your parents inappropriate. This may involve a need for protection. This exception also applies to children under 12. Healthcare professionals must assess the specific situation.
Until age 18, those with parental responsibility must nevertheless receive information necessary to fulfil those responsibilities. You should be informed when such information is shared. If your parents could put you at risk, healthcare professionals must assess how to protect you and whether child welfare services should be involved. Other rules may also require information to be shared in serious situations. Ask healthcare professionals to explain what applies to you.
Activities and teaching steps
1. Compare two scenarios · 10 minutes
A 14-year-old and a 17-year-old want to ask about their health. Students find the main rules for each age in the source. They then explore situations where exceptions may apply.
2. Prepare questions before an appointment · 10 minutes
Groups write: 'What can stay between us?', 'What information might you have to share?' and 'Can you explain what happens next?' Ask them to create a question of their own in a similar style.
3. Find a service and prepare contact · 10 minutes
Find the local youth health clinic or school health service. Write a brief request for a fictional person, including what help they want and a question about privacy. Let students keep any personal texts private.
Questions for reflection
- Why is it important to understand both the general rules and the exceptions?
- What does it mean to receive information you can understand?
- How can an adult support a teenager in contacting a service and participating in the conversation?
Conclude the lesson
Write one question about confidentiality and one specific step for arranging an appointment.
Follow up on students' needs
Explain the rules applicable to your role. Teachers and healthcare professionals have different legal requirements for confidentiality. Determine necessary follow-up, information to guardians and any reporting duties in accordance with the circumstances and current sources. Healthcare professionals must consider both the child's need for protection and rules about information necessary for those with parental responsibility. If parents may pose a danger, assess the need for protection and reporting to child welfare services.
Guidance for conversationsSchool adjustments and support
Sources and professional background
These are the sources used. The activities and conversation examples were developed by Tidlignok. Adapt the material to your group and follow current local procedures.