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?

[Matchy69]

Hi Sleepy I remember when I first came on here 3 years ago I was really bad mentally and waiting for a response actually made me more depressed as I was checking every couple of minutes to I adventurally got one which was such a relief.I found this site after typing in feeling S.So I think it is really important to make new members welcome and that they get a response pretty quick.I found it much easier for me to make a post on here then ring and talk to someone in person.Their is some of is who struggle to talk to people on the phone to either here or lifeline.It is much easier for us to write a post on here.

[Guest_1643]

hi mark

there are a lot of posts that fall between the cracks and it's amazing u've been able to give so much to so many ppl here and inspire them and care for the newcomers

i remember being really confused initially and i remember you welcomed me as well

New ppl here sometimes do post once and never again and u wander if they are ok or got enough support here

it takes a little time to get used to the forums so it's great that ppl try and greet new ppl. There's always a nice bond when u post something for the first time and u get someone who has been there

Because a big part of struggles with MH is that u feel alone. I honestly felt so so different to so many ppl which was a really trigger for me and to come here and feel like ppl get it was truly amazing

[ecomama]

Yes! Thankyou Mark and Geoff and SLEEPY too,

you are all so welcoming to new people. Others are too and I think it's ONE of the most important things we can do for others.
WELCOME them warmly.

It can be SO nerve wracking wondering whether to join or not, wondering if ppl IRL will ID us etc etc.

Welcoming ppl to a "safe space" and being responsive when we can is the best we can do.

Sleepy, I knew alot of ppl on a Private FB group who were going thru similar to me but I had to leave FB about 2y before finding the BB forums.

I'm so grateful I came on board.
EMxxxx

[Matchy69]

Hi Em and Sleepy you two are both amazing people with so much caring advice.

Like I have mentioned before lonelyness is one of the more common topics on here and I am one of them that suffers from this.It really does effect your mental health and it would be nice if we can make people on here know they have someone who cares and to talk to.It is really important to make people welcome and toake them feel like the BB family.

[Guest_1643]

hi eight this is a huge issue for me as well

I had to stop contacting a specific service because they were so triggering for me

it took a social worker to sit with me and direct me to places i could call that were more helpful and likely to speak to my issues. From that day on I totally stopped calling this helpline which i'd had a toxic experience with, and i'm comfortable that it's not a suitable place for me.

I think honestly it's quite dangerous to push helplines as a fix-all, and I also think (and openly say on many forums) that I don't think heavily relying on booking a session with a GP is really as helpful as ppl say it should be - there are so few GPs who specialise in mental health, and many do very little. I actually think it's helpful to sometimes say it like it is, eg - i think very few GPs are cluey about MH, I think it's really hard to find a good psychologist and u can't just go on google and find one, and I also think the process is daunting, hard and draining to get any mental health support and find the right helplines, forums or ppl to talk to.

This has been my experience but I say this not to discourage anyone, but to actually make them feel better, knowing that it's not their fault that someone from a helpline gave them no guidance or was minimising them. This happens often, and accross all mental health services, and it's a problem for many ppl.

This is my opinion as someone who calls helplines, using this forum, goes to my GP and seeks professional help within and without of a hospital. I'm open to it all. But the system has failed me dozens of times.

[geoff]

Hello to those above who have replied as there are so many excellent points that have been made.

The online forums should be regarded as an enormous part of BB, it's how people are able to communicate with other people who either know what is spoken about or alternatively talk with other people who have, unfortunately, experienced similar circumstances, but I don't know whether this part is regarded as being such a huge part of Beyond Blue.

It's where people can open up, something they may have had difficulty in doing when talking face to face to another person, in fear of being criticised or perhaps reprimanded unduly, that's why the funding of the forum should be increased to satisfy what it stands for.

Yes, we do have many people who only post once or twice and we need to understand their reason why they decide to stop posting, although they may continue to read and at least that's good, but it necessarily doesn't help them overcome their own problems, the situations they're trying to cope with.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Guest_1643]

hi eight i'm sorry you received emails that your posts aren't displayed.

that hurts.

[Summer Rose]

Hi Eight and Geoff

I am sorry, Eight, that you had such a traumatic experience with another service. Perhaps it will help you to know that many of us have been let down by the system or a particular provider along our journeys.

It doesn’t help that it now feels like you’re also being constrained about talking about it here. I want to encourage you to keep trying to seek help. Geoff, Sleepy, me and others are here and actively listening with open hearts.

I really like that you posted your concerns. I hope it means that maybe you’re not quite ready to walk away because you’re still willing to do your bit to share your experience to improve the forum for everyone. Thank you.

Geoff, I have always admired your work here. As a newbie, I learned a lot from your posts—and still do. I guess, to be honest, I see you as the “elder statesmen” of the forum. Critically you know the history of this place and it’s evolution.

For what it’s worth, your words carry a lot of weight with me and I empathise with your frustration and disappointment.

Kind thoughts to all

[blondguy]

Hey Sleepy21

It depends on the content in the post Sleepy. Its the moderators call as they have to ensure the forums are a safe place for new and existing members to post

always great to see you!

Paul

[Guest_1643]

Hi Paul,
Thanks for sharing ur input. It's a delicate issue. It can be hard if someone is sharing their honest experience and it is deleted.
I think those things are okay to share here but i'm not a professional

I think it's different to say for example - I had a terrible experience with XYZ, then to say XYZ is terrible always and no one should call them.
It's just like if u look up a review of a doctor, u might see 10 negative reviews for a doctor but still read them and discern that u feel okay to see the doctor. The reviews still have their place and help u factor in what to expect.
But u don't have to take it to mean 100 percent it's not the right person for u.

I didn't want to go to a certain plae for help because I read something bad about them, but over time I've worked trough that and now go to that place.

That bad thing still happened and I still have reservations about it. I'm scared to get to a place where ppl can't share bad experiences because i feel like we are selling an overly optimistic idea of what ppl can expect from MH services. I truly hope everyone gets amazing help from helplines, but u may be hung up on once or twice. I'm not telling anyone not to seek help.