The me no one knows - SI warning

Will do it another day @tyme

Emotions moving from upset to angry

Feedback lodged @tyme

@Flutterbug9 Hello I’m really hoping you are ok. No pressure to answer at all.

I do think there’s been a change here on forums and I did read your posts re medical and can understand why you are upset with the way it was changed.

Im concerned I really rely on the forums too but I don’t see peer support around much and the changes they are making worry me. The forums have changed in a way it feels less supportive staff wise.

I am doing terrible and havnt had any peer support worker say anything at all. Today is really rough.

Hey @Cuddlebear

I am genuinely so sorry to hear that today has been such a rough one for you. I'm glad you reached out on here, and there's no pressure to respond to me if that feels like too much right now.

I also want to acknowledge that the forums have been going through some shifts, this includes new moderators joining the space. Changes like this can feel unsettling, especially when you have previously connected with certain mods. We want this to be a supportive space for yourself, and other members to connect.

Feel free to share feedback with us via our feedback and complaints form. SANE encourages and actively seeks feedback from members.

You're also welcome to share anything that might feel supportive for you today 💜

@Cuddlebear

im trying to deal with lots of emotions, everything from tears to anger.

slept for about 14hrs last night, quantity not quality

Choosing to stay no more as not fair to you.

pains me that you are going through a really bad time and that are feeling you have no support from anyone.

Im trying to stay off the forums atm for my benefit as well as everyone else’s. I’m not in any type of emotional state to be any good to anyone

Hey @Flutterbug9 hun,

Sorry it is so hard for you at the moment.

Please know we are here for you.

What would support on the forums look like for you?

We also respect your decision to distance yourself a little if you feel that's right for you at this time, but we want to let you know you are always welcome.

We appreciate your feedback.

What supports would like look for me?

from my perspective, it doesn’t matter @tyme
im just a drop in the ocean

one small voice against the wind.

whatever decisions that are made will be made.

i experienced first hand firsthand years when im paid work, decisions rarely are impacted by suggestions from people the decisions impact

I ask question/s that don’t get answered.

why would anything I say or think matter

@tyme

@Flutterbug9 I hear you. I agree that we can't say one piece of feedback guarantees change, because that wouldn't be fair or honest. But what I can say is that your perspective still has a lot of value in being heard.

You're not required to give feedback, that choice us completely yours. But I appreciate you taking the time to share how you're feeling💜

Hi @Flutterbug9 just about to back-read what's been going on for you yesterday/today. But I can see for the few posts most recently that something has happened and it's been really upsetting and hard for you. So before I spend time reading, I just want to first send you a BIG hug and support and let you know I am here in case you need/want.

@Flutterbug9 caught up now. I can empathise about how this can caused you to be upset and angry.

I don't feel I have any "previous" to compare to, but I have noticed that the PSW seems a bit more... sparse that at other times over the 6 months I have been here, as you and @Cuddlebear have also noticed. I noticed when I first joined they had a shortage and thus the overnight hold on posts due to no moderators too. I suspect there has been some lower-than-ideal number of staff available (PSW and Mods), possibly due to holiday season also perhaps adding to the usual balancing of people being unwell unexpectedly? I am just theorising here. I know Shaz (not sure if you would want me to tag them or not) has also noticed this too, and she's the pulse of the forums so she sees a lot.

I am curious whether tagging @moderator also notifies PSW accounts of the post, or only the "moderator" accounts? (Hoping a mod can now answer this haha)

I would love to see a way that we could ourselves flag a post of our own (or someone else's we see that would benefit from ASAP Mod/Peer support) as "needing help now please" (and by that I mean something where someone is in non-life-threatening distress). This could help bring attention to it more urgently, which could also help the PSW/mods triage during periods of high demand. I might copy this idea to the would sane consider these changes to the forums thread to "add it to the list" in one place.

When I have been in distress and not had any PSW/mod respond, I have always tried to tell myself "there is someone else more urgent". But I find it hard to believe that every time I have been in acute distress that has been the case. I am guessing that it must be hard for the staff to be able to notice all the posts "in time" - because you can't see how urgent something is until you read it, and I know they get flooded with so many every day.

I wish there was an easy solution. I suspect there are some behind-the-scenes barriers with staffing levels, whether it be from funding or a lack of trained staff. However I guess it would be good to know, because then there could be motivation for forum members to help promote the organisation and how helpful the services are in order to help raise the profile/awareness with local & federal governments for increased funding as an effective return-on-investment for supporting complex mental health and the peer MH workforce value. I know we can't do much as individuals, but we can each voice what we think. And sometimes when enough voices are saying the same thing, sometimes people start to think "oh, maybe that really is worth it" or in the case of politicians, "oh - that's what my people want. Ok, that will get me re-elected" lol.