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?

[Summer Rose]

Hi

I’d also love to see a section on OCD. A serious widely misunderstood yet prevalent illness that receives scant attention.

Kind thoughts to all

[Guest_1643]

hi summer rose i agree there should be attention to OCD as ppl can find it quite isolating. what a great idea

[Guest_1643]

hi all, not to be cynical, but over nearly 2 years here i haven't seen any improvements to the forum, so I don't think it can be improved but I think there should be more emphasis on the individual to keep safe on the forums and find their own way through it - eg knowing when to take a break if it's triggering, knowing how to speak up if it's upsetting, etc that kind of thing. I have seen other MH forums in Australia offer extensive advice about how to manage if the forum is too much for u at times, and how to get back in. I think learning to step back if something is too much and also staying away for a little can be helpful. At times I must admit certain things here have triggered me and made me feel worse, and they weren't managed properly. I'd like to learn myself more techniques to keep safe etc and encourage everyone to do that.

[Summer Rose]

Hi Sleepy21

I didn’t find your position cynical, just honest.

Totally understand not all suggestions can be acted upon, but does anybody know what, if anything, happens when a suggestion is made?

This may have been explained earlier in the thread but I’m in the dark, so others may be too.

Many suggestions don’t even illicit an acknowledgment, so it leaves the impression that nothing happens when a suggestion is made. Are they put on an ideas list? Considered by bb at some point? Fed into the ongoing work to improve the forums? What is the point of making a suggestion here? (These questions are not meant to be critical just wondering.)

Kind thoughts to all

[Guest_1643]

those are really great questions summer rose. I sent a recommendation which I put a lot of time into and was told that they'll consider it but no more was said.

The forum itself has not changed in any way so for me I think I try and speak up if something concerns me etc on the forums rather than relying on the situation to be managed by anyone else.

[Sophie_M]

Hey Summer Rose and Sleepy21,

Thank you for your questions and suggestions,

When a suggestion is made by a forum member it is sent by the moderator to one of the forum managers who will review the suggestion. At this point, the suggestion is considered by the manager and may be added to ongoing work to improve the forums. A major update is scheduled to happen, however, we are unsure as to when (the design phase for the new forums occurred earlier this year).

We understand it can be frustrating to not receive an answer, however, please be assured each suggestion is seen and sent to a relevant team member. Any suggestions on how we might improve this process is also welcome!

Your suggestion Sleepy21 is fantastic and was sent to the forum manager for review. 

[Guest_1643]

Hi Sophie M - that sounds like a long process tbh and is there any timeline for this overhaul

[quirkywords]

Sleepy I like your suggestion about help with managing to feel safe on forums and knowing when to have a break and being aware if triggers,

there is information about this but maybe nit in one place I. Maybe an idea fir a new thread , what do you think.

i like reading your ideas here and your honesty.

[Summer Rose]

Hi Sophie

Thanks so much for your response.

With the greatest respect, if bb is truly aiming to put the community at the heart of everything it does, then I would encourage you to review how you manage improvement suggestions from this community.

Sleepy’s recent experience provides a great example of why this is important. A valued member with an excess of 3,000 posts, which is a significant contribution, makes a suggestion and ends up feeling disappointed and disillusioned (eg feeling nothing ever changes). Worse, Sleepy ends up feeling unsupported and is left to find her own solution saying, “I think I try and speak up if something concerns me etc on the forums rather than relying on the situation to be managed by anyone else.”

Can we agree that nobody wants these types of outcomes? From my perspective, at best case, an opportunity for true, positive and meaningful engagement was missed. Worst case, bb could lose a valued community member.

People want three outcomes when they provide a suggestion. We want to be heard. We want our feedback to be acknowledged. We want to know if the effort we spent in sharing our feedback was worthwhile and the suggestion was acted upon or why it wasn’t.

The solutions to achieve these outcomes are really for bb to devise, as none of us have the required inside knowledge or expertise. I’m sure the community will be more than happy to provide feedback on solutions that bb thinks could help achieve the desired outcomes, so we can continue working together to benefit bb and our community.

Kind thoughts to you

[Quercus]

Hi everyone,

Sleepy21, thanks for introducing the topic of caring for yourself on the forums as a suggestion.

I agree with Quirky that this is a great idea for a thread. As someone who has taken a break from the forums for my own wellbeing and is still not ready to return I can say at times it is very important to assess whether you need to step back or set limits for yourself such as choosing what you can or cannot read or reply to.

Summer Rose, just figured I'd say as a volunteer (champion) you do get to see a little of the work behind the scenes so I know the suggestions are taken seriously and so is this community. There are people working extremely hard to support us all here. The forums aren't perfect but hey at least we have somewhere to speak out.