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_1643]

i also wander if having the convrsation here maybe singles a person out who had that disussion, rather than discussing it maybe on the actual friend, to give the user the benefit of the doubt and check in with them on the thread about what was said there? Because this is one particular threed and conversation that is easily indentifiable.

[Guest_1643]

thread * not friend

[Guest_4643]

I feel bad now like it's all my fault. I do see your point though, it was just a mistake. I was just trying to make the members aware of the rules too. My sincere apologies.

[Sophie_M]

Thank you everyone for engaging in such a passionate and thoughtful conversation on how we become the most welcoming community we can be. It is great to see all of our members thinking about how to bring others into conversations and how we can best encrouage others to safely share their experiences. The common thread throughout is 'how can I best support someone'.

Just to recap - all members should feel safe to report posts that they are uncomfortable or unsure of. The Mod Support team are here to help make sure the community rules are followed and that all users feel safe and heard.

We look forward to hearing about the next insigtful thoughts of how we can conitnue to imporve the forums!

Kind regards,

Sophie M

[Hanna3]

I didn't mean that to be, it's happening quite often on new posts so I thought I'd bring it here that's all - nothing personal to anyone intended, but I had to give a couple of examples. I just think we can give support but have to be careful about telling people posting what to do. No particular person was meant!

[Ggrand]

Hello everyone....

We are all members of this amazing community...and all here for trying to better our mental health and to try to help others along on their journey...

Lets all just pull together and be kind to each other.. as much as we can....We never know how much words can hurt another person unintentionally....Please if anything at all upsets you, or you think something wrong was said...Its so very easy to just press....Report Post..

Sorry if I said wrong....just don’t like seeing anyone hurting at all...especially our Beyond Blue community members...

Grandy..

[quirkywords]

Hana,

I know when I welcome someone on a long thread posting who is posting for the first time.

I may suggest that they may like to start their own thread as the old thread may not have been used for a while. I always say it is their choice. I understand that first time posters need encouragement and support.

[Guest_1643]

hi all

i agree with everything everyone said here - always enjoy a good discussion that can open my eyes so much

definitely i didn't mean to question reporting which is so so important to do on the forums

i only meant if it's an issue of disagreement with someone, i think it can be helpful for both to enter into a discussion on that thread in particular - there can be a lot of growth through discussion and debate

but im not referring to offensive or harmful content which should be reported super quick, for all our benefit

just saying as we're all humans from time to time we will feel confused, upset, in conflict etc... or disagree on eg ways to include ppl or help them....eg sometimes we could trigger someone unintentionally but that doesn't mean we did anythin "wrong" etc - but if the person lets us know we can be more mindful...

i believe in reporting but think there's also healing sometimes in confronting ppl we disagree with in a respectful way 🙂

[ecomama]

This discussion is really beneficial to all of us.

We need to remember that the BB forums are 100% full of people who have issues with mental health and / or struggling with life and / or life events. Some of them are deeply shocking.

IMO the Moderators do a magnificent job - thankyou!
Rarely are forums so carefully moderated ANY WHERE.
We really are so lucky.

I think it's to be expected that SOME threads WILL trigger us!
It wasn't intentional of the member to do so but that member may NEED to honestly express what they're going through and this is a safe space for them to do so.

We need to allow them this space also. When members can really open up here, the Moderators are there to step in and help too. That's amazing.

I have to steer clear of some threads, for my OWN mental health, and that's OKAY!

I have no idea how many lives have been saved by this forum but I know for sure that the BB forums IMPACT so many people in a POSITIVE way that the ripple effect for member's families are in that count too. Mine for 20+ people!

Remember we are all navigating the mire of MHIs and struggle town or "life" to a point.
It's important NOT to take anything personally.

I also love the way that a member can "report" a post and the Moderators handle these reports in a confidential way. That's amazing too.

I'm not about to kick a gift horse in the mouth, nor "throw the baby out with the bathwater" lol.

Thanks everyone, great discussion.
Love EM

[Guest_1643]

Totally agree EM and great point

I like what u said Quirky as well - to remind me as well to try and be sensitive and help new posters who are trying so hard to join in.

Reporting posts is a great way to contribute to keeping the forum safe and is always okay. Triggers are bound to happen here and can be challenging to manage. I'm still learning myself. It's a good reminder that nothing here is personal. On sensitive topics sometimes ppl have majorly differing views which can be hard to manage but okay.

Even an issue like hospitalisation, some ppl have had very negative experiences at hospital and some have had very positive experiences and both would be right and okay. I would hope ppl would feel very confident and okay and safe to share differing experiences/viewpoints on the forums and sometimes have seen really beautiful interactions where ppl disagree but are so respectful.

Who knows how many minds have been opened to new ideas/treatments and pathways through joining here. I know I have gained amazing guidance on my journey