How can we improve the forums? Your suggestions and comments please

[Chris_B]

Hi all, this thread is a running commentary for all members on things for improvements to the forums. This can be anything from how it looks, the categories, to moderation, community rules etc.

While we might not be able to implement everything straightaway, or keep everyone happy all of the time, we'd like to hear about what you think we can do better.

This is not a thread for discussing the moderation or editing of individual posts - if you have questions about this please contact the team offline via email modsupport@beyondblue.org.au

To avoid repeating suggestions already received, below are some results from our last user survey giving an indication of which new features people would like to see on the forums. This survey was answered by 1,597 users:

44% - Email notification when I have a reply on the forum
39% - Access to the forums via an app
27% - Ability to block seeing posts by specific users
25% - Ability to contact users privately
25% - Ability to use emoticons
25% - Ability to follow posts by specific users
24% - Ability to share links
23% - Forum posts visible only to registered users
22% - A profile, viewable by others users, where I can introduce myself
21% - Ability to quickly access all posts by a particular user
15% - Ability to tag users in a conversation
10% - Ability to share images
6% - Ability to share videos
17% - None of these

Update July 2022 - This discussion has now been closed. Please go to the updated version below to share feedback and follow our updates:

How can we improve the Forums?

[Guest_4643]

Awesome, thanks Sophie 🙂

[blondguy]

Hi Geoff!

When we reply to a post that we have viewed (or posted on before) it will not appear in 'New Posts'

It will be on the top of your 'my threads' header....I hope that makes sense. If memory serves its meant to provide us with the most recent 'New Posts' without any previous threads we have been involved in

my brain hurts lol....I hope you are doing well Geoff 🙂

my kind thoughts....Paul

[geoff]

Hi Paul, thanks for your reply.

On my laptop when I go back to New Posts I can see my reply on New Posts which says 'posted less than a minute ago' but the comment is below other threads and comments that have been posted an hour or so ago.

Hope you had a good weekend, and now we're in the second month of the year, goodness me.

Take care.

Geoff.

[quirkywords]

Geoff

I remember being confused when I looked at a new post and wanted time to reply, I could not find it again. It was no longer new but as I did not reply didn’t go to my threads.

now I make a note of the name of the thread so I can search and reply.

I know that is different to what you asked but it took me a while to work out why I couldn’t see it.
probably sounds confusing.

[Guest_4643]

Hi everyone, I don't know if these already exist but I was thinking of them earlier.

Is there a thread that mentions that we're not professionals here, but we're here to support people the best we can? I've seen a few posts lately which are more suited to professionals and I don't want to push them away, I try my best to offer support but certain things are better dealt with by seeing professionals.

Also, is there a thread that mentions things we find helpful? So helplines, websites, apps, activities, mindfulness, grounding, whatever it may be? I know there's some threads about ways to cope with anxiety, etc. but I was wondering if there was a thread overall that just has ideas such as links, etc.

Just friendly suggestions and questions.

[blondguy]

Hey Tayla...good questions....and thanks too 🙂

There are some threads that are heavy duty that I cant answer either. You are spot on Tayla as we arent professionals here (its not our profession) so we cant provide clinical advice yet if you are comfortable providing support/assistance to the poster with your own lived experience...thats excellent

[Guest_4643]

Thanks blondguy.

I do understand that it's difficult for people to find a professional that they like, open up, and so forth, but certain things are better discussed with them. I try to keep certain things to myself and ask professionals, for example side effects of meds, since we can't discuss medication names & dosages here.

[demonblaster]

mb20lover hi and all ☺

Hi in reply to...

" is there a thread that mentions things we find helpful? So helplines, websites, apps "...

Yes there may be others too but I have quite a lot of housekeeping to do on this particular thread.

Atm I can't remember what it's called but if I remember later I'll swing back here and put the thread name up ☺

I've thought too a thread index would be very helpful. Only thing is the mega amount of threads it'd be a mammoth job. I guess ones that have been buried for a long time may not need to go up although people might get something out of non active threads.

I think if I remember or understand correctly is it "nesting" that I read here recently, think you asked about the meaning not sure though, where a thread has sub threads under the initial thread which would be great.

Editing our posts too I thinks coming as well unless theres been changes to those plans.

So I thought I could ? Nest the other sections I did in the same thread like apps for example.

I'm waiting to see what happens but mostly I haven't gotten back to it ☺

See you all laters 👋

[Matchy69]

I will be on here for 3 years tomorrow and I still find difficult finding things and navigating my way around this site.Maby it is just me.

[demonblaster]

Also at the top of pages is a search bar.

Word/s typed in brings up untold threads on the subject.

Eg; Meditation ... then threads/posts come up

☺