Privacy policy
How Health Story Lab handles information
Health Story LabTM is operated by Rebecca Helps.
The website address is: https://healthstorylab.ca
Health Story Lab is committed to respecting privacy, agency, and the careful handling of information. This policy explains what information may be collected through this website, how it is used, and the boundaries that guide its use.
Health Story Lab is designed to support clearer thinking, organization, and communication around complex health experiences. It is not designed to collect medical records or provide medical advice.
Important Boundary
The HSL Prototype uses a separate Notion-based setup.
For prototype-specific information, see the Data Privacy in the Prototype page.
What information may be collected
Health Story Lab may collect limited information in the following ways:
- Information you choose to provide
Such as your name, email address, or message when you contact the site - Account or membership information
If membership features are enabled, basic information may be collected to create and manage access - Basic technical information
Such as browser type, page visits, login status, or other information needed to operate and secure the website
Health Story Lab does not require you to provide personal health information in order to access public content.
Health information and personal experiences
Health Story Lab is designed to support thinking about health experiences, not to collect or store medical records.
Any descriptions of experiences, reflections, or examples shared through the site or community areas are provided voluntarily by individuals.
Participation in Health Story Lab does not require sharing private health details.
Important Boundary
Please use care when deciding what to share.
You are responsible for choosing what information feels appropriate to provide through the website or community areas.
How information is used
Information collected by Health Story Lab is used only for purposes consistent with the site’s intent.
- Operating and maintaining the website
- Responding to inquiries
- Supporting membership or community access
- Improving clarity, usability, and reliability of site resources
- Supporting basic security and spam prevention
Information is not used to make medical, clinical, or personal judgments about individuals.
Use of artificial intelligence
In some parts of Health Story Lab, artificial intelligence may be used now or in the future to support organization, reflection, or pattern visibility in information that individuals have already chosen to structure.
AI is used in a supportive, non-interpretive role. It does not generate diagnoses, clinical conclusions, treatment recommendations, or decisions.
Meaning-making and decision-making remain with the individual and their health professionals.
Important Boundary
Health Story Lab does not use AI to diagnose, profile, or make decisions about individuals.
Data sharing and third-party services
Health Story Lab does not sell personal information.
Some technical services may process limited information on Health Story Lab’s behalf. These may include website hosting, security tools, membership tools, form tools, analytics, or performance services.
These services are used to operate and maintain the site. They are not authorized to use information for their own unrelated purposes.
Cookies and technical data
Health Story Lab may use cookies and similar technologies to support basic website functionality.
- Maintain login status
- Remember display preferences
- Support security and spam prevention
- Understand basic website use
Cookies are not used to profile users or for advertising purposes.
Community participation
Participation in Health Story Lab community spaces is optional and self-directed.
Where community features are enabled, participation typically takes place within membership-based areas of the site rather than on public pages.
Individuals are responsible for what they choose to share. Sharing personal or sensitive information is not required.
For more detail, see the Community Guidelines page.
Comments and public participation
Health Story Lab does not use public commenting on standard site pages as a primary form of participation.
If comments are enabled in limited areas, information entered into the comment form, along with technical data such as IP address and browser information, may be collected for moderation and spam detection.
Public comments, where enabled, are moderated and may be disabled at any time.
Comments and related metadata may be retained unless removed by the user or site administrators.
Media uploads
If users are able to upload images or files, those files may be accessible depending on site settings.
Users are encouraged not to upload media containing sensitive information, identifying details, embedded location data, or other metadata they do not want shared.
User accounts
If you create an account on Health Story Lab, personal information provided in your profile is stored for the purpose of account access and site participation.
You may view, edit, or delete your personal information where site tools allow, except where retention is required for administrative, legal, or security purposes.
Data retention
Personal data is retained only for as long as necessary to support site operations, user access, and legal obligations.
- Account information
While an account remains active - Contact inquiries
For a limited period, typically no longer than necessary to respond or manage the inquiry - Comments or community-related metadata
Where applicable, for moderation, continuity, or administrative purposes
Your rights over your data
Depending on your location, you may have rights related to your personal data.
- Request access to personal data held about you
- Request correction or deletion of your data
- Receive an export of your personal data
- Ask questions about how your information is handled
Requests can be made through the site’s contact page.
Automated processing
Health Story Lab does not use automated decision-making or profiling that produces legal or significant personal effects.
Any use of automated tools, including artificial intelligence, is limited to supporting organization, visibility, or reflection of information that users have chosen to structure.
These tools do not make decisions, judgments, or determinations about individuals.
Where information is processed
Health Story Lab uses third-party services to host and operate the website. These services may process limited information on Health Story Lab’s behalf.
Where information is processed outside your local jurisdiction, reasonable measures are taken to support appropriate safeguards.
Data security and limitations
Reasonable technical and organizational measures are used to protect information.
However, no online system can guarantee absolute security.
Health Story Lab encourages users to exercise care when sharing personal information online and to consider their own comfort and boundaries.
Important Boundary
Online systems have limits.
Please avoid sharing information through the site that you would not want handled through an online platform.
Changes to this policy
This Privacy Policy may be updated as Health Story Lab evolves.
Changes will reflect the site’s stated principles and boundaries.
Continued use of the website indicates acceptance of the current version of this policy.
Contact
Questions about this Privacy Policy can be directed through the site’s contact page.