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?

[blondguy]

Hey Summer Rose

Thankyou for your super kind post! You just made my day 🙂 I remember when you started on Beyond Blue

I have always admired your sense of clarity & care you provide to members

my kind thoughts and respect SR

Paul

[Guest_1643]

Hi blond guy

I wish there were peer workers as well as modedators, in line with the royal commission.

I woild feel safer here knowing that decisions are made using a lived experience perspective

I have gone through a lot in my life

I know there are some good ppl at bb who are trying.

I also wander who makes major decisions on here.

[Sophie_M]

Hey everyone,

It’s great to read your suggestions on how we can be a bit more community-guided and transparent, especially around these really tricky things like disagreements on the forums and having posts moderated.

Feedback about moderation decisions is always welcome. We ask that these are made directly to the Forums Team at modsupport@beyondblue.org.au. We want to have these conversations, however we believe that these are best discussed off the forums as per our community rules.

As always, we reserve the right to edit and remove posts that we believe are not safe for the forums. Our responsibility is the safety of the community as a whole and this is our priority.
The community rules have been agreed to by all users and we thank you for your continued observance of them. If you wish to discuss them further, please contact us on modsupport@beyondblue.org.au.

We thank you all for your patience with the team as we look to support those in our community who are in acute distress, sometimes this means we may not respond to questions and concerns straight away. However, we value all feedback and suggestions. We’re not able to implement all the suggestions right away, but we are taking them into account and we’re really appreciative of all your hard work and openness. We know that’s been frustrating for some and we are sorry. We’re always so grateful to hear everyone’s insights, and we thank you for keeping this thread so active.

Here’s a summary of some of the things we can see are priorities:

• Transparency
• Centring Lived Experience
• Advice for people with adverse experiences of mental health services
• Visual changes eg. Badges, pronouns, user descriptions

Thanks again for being a part of this community,

Sophie M

[Summer Rose]

Hi Sophie

I think you nailed it. Thank you!

But yet I feel compelled to give bb a gentle, loving, kind but big push to take at least one of the identified priorities and produce an outcome in a timely fashion.

I do this because the risk you run is that words about valuing our input, taking suggestions into account and appreciating our hard work are only going to become increasingly meaningless over time without action. It might pay to reread Community Champion Blondguy's post of 15 February 2022.

Kind thoughts to you

Kind thoughts to you

[Sophie_M]

Thanks Summer Rose, this is a really good point and we hear you (and you, Paul aka Blondguy!).

We know everyone on this conversation is giving us their time and their wisdom, and this team will do our best to see through the actions we can, as soon as we can. 

Kind regards, 

Sophie M

[Guest_1643]

Hi,

I've seen some small steps forward but have also been badly impacted by some things and hope changes can be made, to focus on lived experience

I have seen some changes here

Can I ask bluntly, what is the policy on swearing here, OK or no?

What is the policy on talking about sh or suicide.

I notice myself feeling very shaky talking about it of its wrong here

But I think if it's in the sh or suicidalitu section, maybe ppl should be able to talk about feeling suicidal, if they insist they are safe.

Or talk about past experiences of suicide in a way to show how we have grown and lived on...

I don't mean to trigger but I think we could find a way that these conversations can be Safe....maybe just if they are kept in the appropriate section of the forums?

[Matchy69]

I agree with what you have said.I feel can't talk about those topics as well and have some experience with doing it and why I did it.It would be nice to talk more openly about and I am sure it would help others.

[Summer Rose]

Excellent, Sophie.

We are stronger when we work together.

Kind thoughts to you

[britishtvfan]

i agree with you sleepy. the swearing doesn't bother me as long as it's not at someone, calling them names or something.

i think sh & suicidal posts should be allowed because after all, it is a mental health website, & we should be able to discuss that stuff, with trigger warnings or whatever if need be.

plus if someone is suicidal or has attempted, or sh, then what worked for helping them through it may work for others. but everyone is different.

[Guest_1643]

I think if ppl want to talk about suicidality they should have space to have real talk anout it, if they are safe.

My reasoning is I think it really helps

Thanks for sharing that others feel bit shaky talking about it too, it makes me feel more comfortable.

I felt a bit awkward, like I was always scared of saying the wrong thing here but I guess i want ppl to have safe places and safe ways to talk about it and not feel scared like I did !