Moderation and Guidelines

Is the chat not going to be like how it has been on the past @tyme

Where you can jump on and talk to a counsellor.

I’m a little confused. @tyme Is this chat the same as the ‘rooms’ that we are discussing in the crisis support thread? Or is this something different?

This chat will be different @Birdofparadise8 . It is more like direct messaging a member.

I'll have to check... it's probably the same thing @Captain24

Oh so won't there be a chat like we had before on the SANE website away from the forums @tyme

It is anticipated @tyme @Captain24 @Birdofparadise8 that the 'rooms' on the forum would be something like what we are presently participating in ie. a separate thread that is not public and with only invited members to participate. eg. a thread for eating disorders where members can support each other with similar experiences and also that the subjects of conversations may be more open than what we currently have in our guidelines.

I do love this idea but it would have to have very specific boundaries. I know one of the questions has been - will that take conversations away from the forums and will those members still post on the public forums? There very well may be a little of that - especially for newer members - but one of the major things that underpin the forums is the connection members have between each other ...so I would not expect that to change much.

From what you have said @tyme it seems the previous CHAT will not be available anymore. The in-forums private chat that SANE are exploring is not the same as what we used to have.

If one is to replace the other then I would be very disappointed. For myself, I struggle to talk but am able to type when I am not having a good day. CHAT was perfect for that in the past where I could jump on and 'talk' with someone to help work through things. Most of these times I was not in crisis (or needing ongoing support) but being able to connect with someone privately through CHAT made a massive difference.

@tyme We need to be completely transparent with regards to what the private messaging would entail. Primarily it would be to communicate with members who present as in crisis - to take it off the forums where it can be distressing for others. The guidelines would need to emphasise that it is not a counselling service but rather one where the mod/PSW and member can make a plan to move forward. This plan should include the member's supports outside of the forum and also be able to advise of additional supports in their area they may be able to access. There would need to be a time limit on developing and implementing this.

I do have reservations - especially with over-reliance - but that is the same with any system.

Why can't we have the chat like it was before do you know @Zoe7

That will be disappointing I found the chat so helpful. If I was struggling at work I could jump on my phone get the chat up and wait to be connected then go on my lunch break to get some help until I've finished my shift. I can't call at work so the chat was very good.

I disagree @Birdofparadise8 The GS has had nearly 4000 people referred and over 1300 undertaking 1:1 counselling sessions. The pilot targetted several areas around Australia - these areas were chosen because of the lack of support systems within them for many. So that is several thousand people that may not have been able to access any support but SANE has helped those people to do that. I would hope that this program would in the future be spread to more areas but no doubt that will defend on funding.

In respect to those who use SANE - we have to remember that the forums are peer-to-peer. It is not meant to be a counselling service nor one we can go to in a crisis. The forums are about talking through things with our peers utilising our own lived experience to connect with others.

You said "Things with the GS aren't helping people if they don't use it". That is the same with any service and the GS is helping those people that DO use it.

We could say the same as above for KHL - access is restricted to under 25s so their services are not available to everyone. I do not have an issue with this but giving that as an example of different services with different clients/members and different support systems.

Agree with your post about CHAT @Birdofparadise8 It was a great outlet for that one off support - and the privacy of CHAT allowed anyone, anywhere, to receive support.