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Meet your community champions!

replies: 12

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.

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 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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I'm new here

replies: 6

Mother of 6. Eldest is 15 youngest is 4 months. Do have post natal depression and aniexty. I'm 34 years old. Have found support to be wonderful in dealing with this. But some days are a struggle.. I think your all amazing xx It's a pleasure to meet e... View more

New here

replies: 5

Hey, I'm on here because I thought it was time that I talk to someone. I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression 3-4 years ago. Just when I think I'm getting better and things are looking up, BOOM! Something happens and I'm back to where I started. I have a loving and supporting family who are there for me. But I don't want to burden them, even though they say I'm not. I feel like I'm stuck in life and don't know what to do. Most days I wake up with a heavy feeling in my chest that won't go away.

New to the group

replies: 3

Hello all, I am new to the group, and I would like to say how great it is to have an online forum that covers issues such as, depression and anxiety. Like many sufferers, I find that telling people about it, can be very difficult.

Hello New Member

replies: 2

Hi my name is Alison,i'm 26 years old and i'm from Melbourne,Victoria.

Acronyms please info

replies: 6

Could someone please give me a list of acronyms because I don't know them and it makes it hard for me. Thanks Later

One thread where I can ask questions about the forum?

replies: 4

Easy to use one thread to help navigate and understand how to use please? my threads aren't running in time or dates? Later

New member saying hi!

replies: 2

Hi there, I just found this forum while trying to find out the reasons I've been feeling the way I do lately. I'm a 40yr old sparky from Brisbane, and am reluctant to say I've struggled my whole life with depression, or something like it. As a teenager I was a guinea pig for pharmaceuticals, and am reluctant to go there again. I'm looking for a reason to go on, hopefully i'll find something here to inspire me. Regards Matt

Unsure

replies: 2

Hi, I'm very unsure what's going on, I'm not suicidal by all means but I do get low and find it hard to get back into a good mood, I often get anxious if I don't get invited to things even though I know I can't always be invited to things. I get anxious to make plans due to not wanting to miss out on things because I feel fun times at home with my housemates (or plans to go out) are often made when I have already got plans meaning I feel like I'm the odd one out. I often express my opinions and get told you're over thinking it or you're just depressed( I don't any official diagnosis) even if it is an often occurrence. What should I do?

New job and subject to Racism :(

replies: 1

Hey there first post thought I would share as I feel I can't say anything at work yet due to having a 3 month probation period. Very disappointed in myself when I got asked to fill in a conflict of interest form for working a second job and then the manager said and don't forget to put your Aboriginal community activities on there. What the ... so I did the form as I felt pressured and who wants to disappoint a new boss/workplace. I stated that" I coach sport teams, run water for sports, cooking, planting trees, first aid trainer for sports on weekends with the family" I don't do any work within my job that works with any Aboriginal communities or Aboriginal people. I feel I have let myself down and my people. I look at the activities and are they any different to what other people do ? Do they have to do a conflict form ? A Chinese guy in my office didn't do a form he does things in his community and didn't do a form but heard the conversation and was horrified, so was the Australian guy that volunteers at the CFA and he has never done a form and apologised for the behavior of the manager .. It's Reconciliation Week and racism still exists ...

Thank You for These Forums

replies: 4

I just want to take the opportunity to thank beyondblue for these forums. These forums has been very helpful to me in the last couple of months when I been going through some of my darkest moments, and the Amazing community on these forums has been a great help and has been very supportive to me and I relay do Appreciate you all. I also like to thank the Amazing Moderators for your very encouraging emails you have sent me they have helped me through a lot of my struggles, and it amazing how everyone is still offering me continuing support. I don’t where I be without the support of these forums. Please Keep up the Good work the community here does appreciate the hard work you all do at beyondblue Sparkles

Meet your community champions! replies: 12

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

I'm new here replies: 6

New here replies: 5

New to the group replies: 3

Hello New Member replies: 2

Acronyms please info replies: 6

One thread where I can ask questions about the forum? replies: 4

New member saying hi! replies: 2

Unsure replies: 2

New job and subject to Racism :( replies: 1

Thank You for These Forums replies: 4