Great post.

i especially agree with this:

But I think there is a need to collaboratively formally establish or restate some of the "unstated working rules" that emerged on DU2. So that posters, and especially the volunteers who end up hosting this forum, have some guidance about how this place has a different nature and function than most other forums on DU, and how that requires participants to express some differences in deportment. Some of those specifics need to be pinned to the top of the forum.

how are we going to maintain the safe space here?

IMO, a safe haven would include a place free from common emotional triggers, invalidation, and discussions that exacerbate others' problems. In other words a place where a person could participate in peer-to-peer discussions where expressions of concern could be met with reassurance and useful information.

Going back through MHSG on the 18 available pages of this groups history, people have posted and replied about personal issues, issues of family (close and extended) members, experiences with treatment (including experiences with medicines and talk-therapy), news stories about mental health, and 'meta-discussions' about how DU was handling mental health, especially about the prevalence of stigmatizing language.

I think it would be reasonable that all those things continue to be discussed.

Personally, I am uncomfortable with the meaning of support and my ability to supply it, even when I'm struggling watching some distressed DUer's thread getting no responses.

I think we need to talk openly about what being supportive is, and how we don't cross lines that the Admin makes for medical/psychiatric advice, and what the members of this forum has decided is out of bounds.

If we can figure that out, I think we can be more supportive to each other and to ourselves.



Over in England, they developed a course for business/industry/schools etc in Mental Health First Aid. The mnemonic device used to remember the steps of mental health first aid is ALGEE.

That stands for:
Assess for risk of suicide or harm
Listen non-judgmentally
Give reassurance and information
Encourage appropriate professional help
Encourage self-help and other support strategies

It's something to start a conversation around . . .

-- I think MSHG should have a WHAT TO DO RIGHT NOW IF YOU ARE IN A CRISIS post pinned to the top of the page. It would give direction to professional help for emotional crises, including thought/threats of suicide and self-harm.

These crises are way too serious, time-sensitive, and potentially triggering for others to be dealt with by what are random visits by others to the forum. I don't mean to say these topics should be taboo for discussions between members about mental health news items that include them.

--Below the crisis post I think we might create a THINGS TO CONSIDER TO BE A SUPPORTIVE MSHG MEMBER thread. That might discuss how to be reassuring, how recognize and share credible mental health information, some thoughts about the art of being encouraging etc.

And I'd encourage many more posts into MSHG about news stories or web-sites that discuss how to be supportive to both mental health care-givers and persons with MH illness.

Since simple seems to work best, what about a working rule that says no sharing posts here unless the OP or author puts "ShareOK" in their subject line? That way the default is privacy?

What do you think?

I have sent a request to the admins to be considered as a host for this forum, btw. I don't post very much but I try to read and I'd like to lend a hand if I can.

but the idea that we honor a request that things people don't want discussed aren't discussed elsewhere is certainly a simple way to start. It's a basic rule for medical patient groups I've participated in.

I am on Facebook (which I don't like and barely use) and on Twitter, (which I enjoy because it's a scanner's heaven). I've also been around confidentiality agreements for many years, so this agreement sounds like a basic to me if this forum is going to work for us.

what would we to do if that's disregarded? i looked around until i found a thread that had been shared via social media (it had been tweeted) and it takes you to the twitter feed rather than tell you who shared it. i'm assuming it would be the same for the others.

It wouldn't have to be one of us.

i'm feeling a bit fuzzy tonight, i'm pretty wiped out.

the difference between groups and forums.

There is more to a computer file than just the username of the DUer who posts it and the content of its text. I don't know what a shared file from DU to social media would contain regarding the computer/account information associated with the original posting from my computer to DU.

Is this a new level of risk, or is it the same old risk?

it just took a few more keystrokes. I don't like anything about FB or Google. They're intrusive as hell and dumb to use. Twitter I love because I can skim quickly and get my junky's information fix. I spend a lot of time there now.

It would be better if all posts didn't show up in Latest Threads. Nothing will keep someone with few scruples from sharing posts that can be derogatory to the ones they dislike. I can just imagine a thread on FR about "DU has to have a mental health group 'cause ....".

Having the group harder to find also cuts down on threads that are off-subject or can be (unintentionally) derogatory to the meaning of the group and its participants. I've noticed posts in Men's Group that are---shall we say---not really what that group should be about.

I don't post here much, but read to help me support my daughter, in her efforts. It also helps me to deal with some of my day-to-day problems. I'm glad its here, and I don't care for the idea that it could change from what it was.

I think this group as well as the People of Faith group and some of the LGBT groups are also sensitive to the need for safe haven. I have trust in the techies around us...together we'll figure out the anxieties and the real risks. Then someone will find a way forward.