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?

[Guest9337]

Another i.t. option that works well on another forum I visit is an extension of the "Mark this post as helpful" theme, where the options are, thumbs up for like it, a laughing face for ha ha, a heart shape for love it, and a thank you note for thank you!

Works really well and is entirely positive.

[Guest_1643]

interesting. some ppl don't like the "like" option because they feel upset if someone doesn't like it... but i think its pretty cute and positive

[Lillylane]

I like the ‘Mark this post as helpful’ button...

But not the ‘thumb’s up’ icon on it.

Love the idea of a thank you.

Always good to receive a thank you 🙂

[Guest_1643]

hi lillyane, i agree, and its sweet u don't know who left it, so you just feel positively acknowledged. also i guess some ppl don't necessarily have time to reply but can just give a "like" - that is sensitive to how we sometimes can't reply too much, whcih is from what i understand a part of the forums idealology.

No one is pressured to reply and there is no social obligation if you don't feel up to it.

I've seen some lovely users find amazing ways, in hard times, with little time/energy, to acknowledge others, just to say hi. You don't have to say muh else. Just hello and thanks for writing. It's nice to know that's okay and u can respond as u feel up to.

Agree, love a "thank you for your post."

[geoff]

Hello Sleepy, I think I know what you meant, but one person taking AD 2 and having a bad experience from it, doesn't mean that another person taking it has the same issues, it may do wonders for them and if by chance someone writes in and says that this AD2 is no good, isn't correct for this other person and may cause unnecessary anxiety.

What suits one person doesn't mean it's going to suit another person.

Other sites do allow you to name medications and there doesn't seem to be a problem in doing that and these sites are global and it's up to your doctor to decide whether or not that AD is appropriate.

Geoff.

[Guest_1643]

hi geoff i totally understand, but because ppl react so differently, that's why i think advising ppl to take them on here is ethically risky

i believe ads are risky for many situations and unfortunately online we just don't have the ability to do proper risk assessment.

Eg if someone has a history of ods/sh some medications could put them at suicide risk. A good addiciton specialised psychiatrist will be able to advise this, but i'd always proceed carefully here as we do have members who have a history of s attempts/self harm, myself included

[Guest_1643]

that's interesting that other sites allow medication names... i think i'm also a bit indifferent, i'd find it easier to mention the meds names but if i cant its okay

i just think sometimes the convos are so specific anyway that not mentioning the name itself doesn't mean much

maybe there should be more guidance ie - it's okay to talk about medication use as yu experience it, but not to recommend to someone eg - have you tried ABC? I think personally there are some meds (eg benzos) which we are finding out now are highly risky for many vulnerable ppl - i would hope that in any convo about medications we respect that there are vulnerable and desperate ppl here and we wouldn't want to sway them to feeling they should jump urgently into taking meds when it generally needs to be a proper discussion.

[Matchy69]

I think just having Mark this post as helpful is good enough and keeping it anonymous is a good idea.I think the good thing with this site is we are all anonymous and puts no pressure on us posting.I think having a like button or thumbs up that we know who did it would make it more like FB and people getting obsessed with getting as many likes as possible.This is a mental health Forum and people are struggling with mental health problems on here and we should always remember that.

[Guest_1643]

hi mark i thought of that as well

like-chasing. I liked facebook better before the like posts, u'd feel unpopular if no one liked ur post. And get a sick rush if lots of ppl did like it.
Ppl tell me on instagram they post specifically at certain times in the evening for more visibility ie likelihood to attract more likes. This is kinda sad. As soon as u post something ur imagining ppls reactions and hoping they like it. The goal here is to write what we feel, not to try and get lots of likes.

[Guest_1643]

hi there - is it normal that when u make a post, the moderators dont put it up, but also dont tell u its being censored? ie, its justblocked, with no reason or explanation?

why are these choices made without informing us?