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 have had this happen to me but usually get an email but now the emails do t give you reason why when they use to give you the line they worried about.

[Matchy69]

And not even telling me what post it is they are worried about and when I have made several it is hard to know which one it was.

[Guest9337]

BB forum posters are likely to benefit from these 2 improvements.

1. A "preview" button available during the writing of the post, so that one can preview ones post before publication.

2. Ability to edit one's own posts after publication.

Both of those i.t. abilities would likely reduce moderation teams work load and create more opportunity towards forummers being able to self-moderate communication.

[Sophie_M]

Hi all, thanks for all your suggestions. I’ve compiled a list and have sent them to be reviewed by a manager. 

Thanks Learntofly! All really useful suggestions that would create simplicity and ease of use. By the way, you can see descriptions of all our badges here if you haven't seen them already:

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/welcome-and-orientation/badges-

Thanks for all your suggestions David, these are really great and would certainly reduce moderation time. Some of them I'm not quite sure why we don't have them already! We’re sorry to hear the “no-reply” emails feel rude, this is definitely not our intention. Perhaps there is a way we can rewrite these emails to sound more friendly. 

We can see there is a bit of discussion around whether medication names should be allowed. Dr Kim offers a good explanation on why we don't allow specific medications to be named here: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/treatments-health-professionals-and-therapi...

Hi Sleepy21 and Matchy69, if a post has been rejected or edited there should always be a reason given. We'd encourage you to contact us via email modsupport@beyondblue.org.au if a similar issue arises in future. 

Thanks again all!

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

I’m curious on that one too, Sleepy. I’ve tried to post before, got an email to say it’s being moderated, and then it never gets posted. I’m not a fan of that.

As for meds discussion, I’m in the “nope” camp. Too problematic IMO.

I’m “for” anonymous likes. Could be someone who reads along and never posts, and gives them a way to contribute 🙂

Great discussion here!

[Guest_1643]

thanks - thats really helpful to know! i sometimes get a reason and sometimes don't so when i dont... i'm confused! i know there are glitches and all but it's hard on our end as we don't know what we did wrong. It can make one feel like you keep stuffing it up without knowing.
I'm okay if ppl were to talk about medications with or without names as long as the rules are consistent. if someone says the name of a med inadvertedly that doesn't make sense to me eg spelling it out minus a few letters.
Good work to all and thanks for answering the questions

[tranzcrybe]

'Likes' are dubious on a mental health forum - particularly where the sense of inclusion often plays a pivotal role in feeling welcome. Showing support or siding with a particular view can quickly demean those who do not hold similar beliefs. "I agree with so-and-so" can be akin to saying "I don't agree with someone else" - even if unintentional, it still carries the implication.
But this can extend deeper with the identification of personality, for certain mannerisms build a profile of the contributor, despite anonymity which only ensures privacy of personal details. Some gravitate toward the perception of an individual, while others steer away in much the same way as those who can feel ostracised in social gatherings. Again, not helpful in a sensitive and vulnerable environment such as this (and this is where sharing meds info can be unwittingly influential). I realise the difficulty that presently encourages 'personal' connections, but this can backfire also when responses (or no responses) are taken to heart causing personal distress.
The inclusion of avatars, pseudonyms, awards, and number of posts, reinforce this notion of status within the forum which seems somewhat counterintuitive to purpose. Even the simple Guest XXXX gives an identity. Yes, contributors deserve recognition, but what relevance has it when responding to a post? Is who they are more important than what they say? Can an 'identity' inadvertently influence or hamper what is said, or even how it is being received?
Cynically, I would suggest that an alterior motive lies in increasing membership by fostering the incentives principle, although I believe there is more integrity in the stalwart community contributors than given credit.
A new thread certainly needs an identifier (pseudonym and an avatar, if desired) to help responders relate and convey on a more personal level the support that is being sought. However, any responses should be assigned random identification (true anonymity!) while still being referenced authentically to their 'My Threads' links - any awards and posting levels can there be thus noted if such inclination resides. Comments unrelated to the thread poster (eg, responding to a response) should be edited out to maintain focus and avoid 'teaming up' either for or against.
Is BB up for such a challenge?

[Guest_1643]

hi Sophie, that link didn't work for me re Dr Kim bt I did find the page through a google search, where Dr Kim explains re its okay to talk about medication groups, but not medications

in this case, since the reasoning is about everyone having individual bodies, situations etc and maybe being put off - then it doesn't make sense to allow ppl to identify the medications in any way. Ie - saying it starts with this letter, or describing it like a benzo starting with X, or an antipsychotic starting with x ending with z etc, it will still be 100 percent clear what the person means, and someone who is on that med will recognise it immediately.

[Guest_1643]

dr kim's post is interesting, but in my opinion (it's from jan 2018) definitely needs to be expanded upon. Things have changed in the last 4 years in the MH factor. Some medications that were seen as safe back then have had serious changes. There are meds that are quite risky so that when a dr prescribes it, the govt needs to be informed, so thy can be monitored etc.

Dr Kim seems to be talking about stigma against meds, someone might read that a med ABC is making someone sleepy, and then be put off taking that med.
I'd like to suggest the other side, some ppl may here a lot of ppl here take a certain medication, and feel like its very safe. Everyone else takes it, i'll be fine...

I felt like that in the hospital, hearing medication names being thrown around very casually, every second person on x or y, i ended up asking my doctor for X or Y.

It was apprantly quite a dangerous medication which has a high possibility for causing reactions very dangerous to me specifically. My dr is trianed in this and knows me well, but sometmes in hospital situtions, that's not the case, there's rush, and you may end up taking somethign risky.

I may be in the minority, but i'm also thinking we need to not have a bias against encouraging anti depressants or anti pscyhotics left right and centre, these are serious medications and we have a vulnerable community.

[Guest_1643]

sorry not be biased in encouraging meds too strongly.

I think the risk isn't just putting ppl off meds, but also putting ppl on them. I feel like i'm in the minority here in that regard, but that's my opinion - taking an AD is a serous decision and just because it works for one person doesnt mean it is in any way safe for another person. I personally have been very negatively affected by certain meds which i heard other ppl talk about so i thought they were "no big deal." I didn't do my research. A few years later and they are now known to be a pretty serious medication and are not prescribed as widely. it's okay to be wary, cautious, researched, and informd about all medications u put in ur body.