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Sophie_M Meet your community champions!
  • replies: 10

Hi everyone, We wanted to share with you the way that our wonderful Community Champions are here to support you. You may have noticed that a few of our Forums members are labelled ‘Community Champion’. Community Champions are volunteers within the Be... View more

Hi everyone, We wanted to share with you the way that our wonderful Community Champions are here to support you. You may have noticed that a few of our Forums members are labelled ‘Community Champion’. Community Champions are volunteers within the Beyond Blue Forums who: have the time, skills and empathy to support other members regularly; help to welcome new members; are actively engaged members that help set the tone of our community. Our Community Champions are regular contributors to many conversations across the forums. They are a consistent and friendly voice that have committed to sharing their experience and expertise with this community. They are not health care professionals or clinicians. Like you, they have an experience with a mental health challenge or diagnosis – either for themselves or someone they care for. This forum is for people who understand what it feels like and have a lived and living experience of mental health challenges. Our Community Champions help everyone feel comfortable and confident by demonstrating what excellent peer support is all about. Click here to find out more about how you can become a Community Champion! This incredible team are excited to introduce themselves below, and we are sure you’ll see them around the forums in conversations important to you.

Aaronsis HELP..Am I posting in the right section?
  • replies: 10

Welcome to those who are considering posting for the very first time, welcome. Thought I would repost part of the words that Chris B posted awhile ago, (2014) as I can hear that people are unsure if they are posting in the right section or worried th... View more

Welcome to those who are considering posting for the very first time, welcome. Thought I would repost part of the words that Chris B posted awhile ago, (2014) as I can hear that people are unsure if they are posting in the right section or worried that they are posting "the wrong thing". 1.A good title makes the difference Just like a headline in a newspaper, when scanning the dozens of threads to click into, it’s only natural that people will choose the ones that resonate with them most. A title that entices the reader, or asks a question, is likely to get a better result than something non-descriptive like “Depression” or “I don't know what to do”. If you think you’re not good at choosing titles, leave it till last. Spend time writing your post, then perhaps choose a sentence from what you’ve written as the title. 2.Join in threads that have already been posted We all have our own unique stories, but part of the reason for joining a forum like this one is because you know that you will have a lot in common with others who are posting. Before starting a new thread, have a look through the current topics being discussed and see if there’s a conversation you can join in with. It can be quite common to have a handful of very similar threads happening at any one time, with members seemingly unaware that there are others right there who are going through the same thing. Talking to other members on their threads is a great way of getting yourself known so that when you post a thread of your own, people may respond quicker because they recognize your name. 3.Choose the most appropriate section for your post Many people browse the forums looking for stories specifically to do with pregnancy and parenting, employment, grief, loss, separation etc. Going straight for the “Depression” section may seem like the easiest option, but this section is often the busiest, so your post is more likely to get lost among the threads. Making good use of the different forum sections not only helps keep the forum relevant, but you’re more likely to find others who are going through the same experiences as you. Also, if you're wanting to discuss issues of trauma, abuse, suicidal thoughts or self-harm, it's really important you post in the designated section to avoid triggering others who may not wish to read about these topics. Mostly..just come and chat, we are here for you. Our amazing wizards in the background will see your message ends up in the right spot. Sarah

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Snicker Hey everyone. I'm new here
  • replies: 2

Hello, this is my first time doing this so I'm a bit unsure of how this works but I'll give it a go. for about a year or so I have been struggling with my sexual orientation. I'm a 15 year old female and quite confused about it. All my life I had bee... View more

Hello, this is my first time doing this so I'm a bit unsure of how this works but I'll give it a go. for about a year or so I have been struggling with my sexual orientation. I'm a 15 year old female and quite confused about it. All my life I had been mostly attracted to boys up until last year where I met a girl. Since then my attention has mostly been on girls. I thought I was bisexual and I never felt fully okay with that label, I'm not sure if that label is not for me or if I had trouble accepting it. I'm questioning if I might be a homosexual. Any advice? thanks

Sherlock123 Thanks for having me
  • replies: 13

Hi, Lately I have been feeling really low. I don't want to get out of bed I feel like I don't want do anything. I go to work and put on a brave face I just feel like I am a burden on everyone. I try and talk to people but I just feel like I am bother... View more

Hi, Lately I have been feeling really low. I don't want to get out of bed I feel like I don't want do anything. I go to work and put on a brave face I just feel like I am a burden on everyone. I try and talk to people but I just feel like I am bothering them. I am at a loss. I just feel like I am fighting an up hill battle alone. I just over think everything so I can't sleep. Thanks for letting me put what's in my head out there..

Cozy Over loaded
  • replies: 1

Hi I am feeling really tired and have worked too much to the point where i am emotionally and physically drained , I am not doubting myself and feeling incapable ' How can I recharge ?

Hi I am feeling really tired and have worked too much to the point where i am emotionally and physically drained , I am not doubting myself and feeling incapable ' How can I recharge ?

Jemima24 New on Forum
  • replies: 2

Hi there Have felt anxiety/depression on and off most of my life. In a marriage but feel very lonely, not sure if I would feel less lonely if I left the marriage. We are complete opposites and trying to build a connection. Sometimes it works but basi... View more

Hi there Have felt anxiety/depression on and off most of my life. In a marriage but feel very lonely, not sure if I would feel less lonely if I left the marriage. We are complete opposites and trying to build a connection. Sometimes it works but basically always a struggle. Haven't got any stability in my job and work is drying up which is really triggering my depression at the moment. Don't have any close friends and desperate for connection. Getting a stable job that I enjoy is the break I need but is not happening for me. Hoping to connect with others who can relate to this...

Keysha So it is the first step
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I am Keysha and you can call me K. I like "K" as a name because Franz Kafka used it in many of his works, especially in the Castle, in which K tried everything he could but he was unable to arrive at the destination. I feel the same way now. ... View more

Hi all, I am Keysha and you can call me K. I like "K" as a name because Franz Kafka used it in many of his works, especially in the Castle, in which K tried everything he could but he was unable to arrive at the destination. I feel the same way now. The black dog came back to me, all of a sudden. I suffered and still suffering moderate depression, anxiety, and eating disorder (wow I get a lot). Hope to talk to you. Hope you feel good at now and in future.

Pat_1 New to site
  • replies: 2

I find the navigation a bit daunting I hope with my scrambled head I can wander around the site without harming me or any one else lol. I dont know what I will take away from here hope some good stuff in some way

I find the navigation a bit daunting I hope with my scrambled head I can wander around the site without harming me or any one else lol. I dont know what I will take away from here hope some good stuff in some way

Holvee And so it begins...
  • replies: 5

So a few days ago I wrote in saying that my school councillor suggested I see a gp. Today was that day! Going into it I was extremely nervous and my hands were shaking so fricken bad!! I knew the second we started talking that I was going to cry, it ... View more

So a few days ago I wrote in saying that my school councillor suggested I see a gp. Today was that day! Going into it I was extremely nervous and my hands were shaking so fricken bad!! I knew the second we started talking that I was going to cry, it was inevitable. We talked for ages with my mum there but I just didn’t feel comfortable so the gp got her to leave and I was able to open up a little more. The outcome: no school for 2 weeks, no social media, an appointment at headspace or another place and then maybe a specialist. It does make me nervous cause I think I will fall behind A LOT more than I already was {and I’m in bloody grade 11} but hopefully when I go back I can get some sort of adjustment to my assignment schedule. We’ll see what happens I guess holly

Tillysmum Hello
  • replies: 4

Hello everyone. Thank you for having me. I just wanted to introduce myself. I actually work within mental health, but also have a lived experience of ongoing mental illness. I've been a support person to friends with mental illness and did a lot of v... View more

Hello everyone. Thank you for having me. I just wanted to introduce myself. I actually work within mental health, but also have a lived experience of ongoing mental illness. I've been a support person to friends with mental illness and did a lot of voluntary work alongside my 5yrs of studying. I've joined these forums partly to explore some mental health stuff that's going on for me at present and also to provide support for others going through tough times ☺️

Kind_Heart Hello from a new volunteer :)
  • replies: 4

Hello everyone. I am a new volunteer and would just like to say hello! I live in a country town and am entering the field of community services in my area. My town and its surrounds has been affected by Bush Fires and now has Covid19 to deal with whi... View more

Hello everyone. I am a new volunteer and would just like to say hello! I live in a country town and am entering the field of community services in my area. My town and its surrounds has been affected by Bush Fires and now has Covid19 to deal with which has hit the town hard as it relies on tourism in a big way. I am in many community groups here and am currently enrolling in one of the new Undergraduate Certificates (Mental Health and Counselling) that the government is subsiding. I am excited about going into this area and I am excited about volunteering with Beyond Blue as well. I hope you are all staying safe and taking care. Cheers for now!