Have we been forgotten about?

Thinking of everyone 💜 I feel like we’re all in the same boat with this. But we’ve got this, we have each other.🌻

I really hope they begin to see the absolute value that PSWs bring to this forum and that things can continue as they have been.

And if not, we’re definitely a passionate bunch who will stand up and advocate for just how valuable PSWs have been to our SANE experience and to our lives. 💕

@Bow @MatchaToad @Flutterbug9 @Dimity @DogMan79, @Shaz51 @Captain24 @NightFury @Cuddlebear + everyone

Popping into this discussion thread to provide some updates and respond to some of the very valid concerns that’ve been expressed about the changes happening across SANE services including the Forums.

First up, we want to emphasise that no matter what, SANE Forums will always be a peer‑led space built on kindness, understanding, and respect.

We understand that changes to our moderation structures may currently feel uncomfortable, but please rest assured they’re being made with the very best intentions.

It won’t be a surprise to anyone that reviews have shown very clearly that the most powerful thing on our Forums are the voices and experiences of the Members and the connections made through peer to peer conversations.

The evolving Forum structure is designed to amplify and strengthen this focus on lived experience, whilst ensuring that everyone still feels comfortable to share and connect. This means SANE Forums are truly led by the community, for the community.

To our Peer and Community Guides - This thread has emphasised to us how some of you are feeling a little disengaged. We hear you! We’ll be reaching out to you directly to talk things through and make sure you feel you’re across what’s happening and part of the process.

To the broader SANE Forum community – We encourage you to please keep checking the Get Support page of the SANE website to stay across service updates.

And remember, we DO want to hear your feedback, questions and concerns and we DO read every single one. Please send these through to feedback@sane.org (or using the web form here).

Thanks so much for your honest feedback, your ongoing support of each other, and for helping make this space safe, respectful, and empowering.

Hi all @Bow @Captain24 (sorry I haven't tagged everyone)

I'm so sorry to hear that your experiences with the forums have been impacted negatively of late. I'm pretty new here, so I didn't see the change - although I can deeply relate to your feelings. I once tried to reach out to another organisation thinking I'd get more tailored advice, but the person I was connected to ended up being dismissive, referred me to options I'd already tried and abruptly ended the chat before checking that I was ok with the results - I hadn't felt so abandoned in a long time. Signing up here, I finally felt like someone cared. @MatchaToad @Chasingsunsets @NightFury @Shaz51 have been nothing but supportive in the short time I've been on here. In some ways they opened the door to me learning to be gentle with myself; I hope that never goes away and maybe I can experience what you guys have in the past.

Although the forums aren't what you know and love, I hope we can all get through this together. 🤍

I always try to reply as quickly as possible, but I do get overwhelmed and may take some time offline before coming back.🐈

Hello @Mortimer_3 , @Bow , @Teal , @Chasingsunsets , @MatchaToad , @NightFury

I have been here on the forum for 11 years now and we have come forward in leaps and bounds since those early days

So many members here and so much support for everyone

We can do this all together ❤️ we are here for each other everyday and I see this how we support each other

@RachSANECEO

So I guess the decline in member engagement and interactions is a result of all of this and was the plan? I guess if there are less people around there won’t be a need for as many moderators.

that’s cool. I don’t care anymore.

Reading @Teal seems to confirm PSW support is being downscaled or withdrawn.

The recent PSW involvement has enhanced connectivity, community and consistency. Forumites may offer pearls but PSWs have helped string them together and initiated opportunities for further growth. They'll be sorely missed.

PSW responsiveness also greatly enhanced our sense of safety and of being heard. The difference was particularly striking in the welcome given to new participants, and in the ongoing care and concern for forumites doing it tough.

I know these comments won't be heard, but I don't have the spoons at the moment to write up another submission for the feedback channel.

Thankyou @Bow for calling out the changes. I'd noticed things were different but hadn't connected the dots.

I hear you @Dimity🙏, sitting with you @Bow 💚

Hopefully the changes will become clearer soon, and I hope that the role of the PSWs has not been overlooked. PSWs have been a valuable part of the forum, and their contributions have played an important role in discussions also ☀️🌻

@Shaz51 @Mortimer_3 @Teal

I’ve been thinking back over 2 messages with the same PSW a few days apart. My most recent message was in reply to a question asked by the PSW. Reply from the PSW has felt like there’s no connection to our chats the previous week.

this combined with everything else (including only one mod or PSW has posted on this thread) has left me feeling quite sad and wondering where are our supports when we need them. Feels like they don’t exists anymore, not like used to.

I’m getting to the point I don’t care anymore. Feels like on an admin level and above that no one cares about those of us on the forums. I’ve reached a point I don’t know if I want to be here anymore. Don’t know what benefit it is for me to stay and be part of the forums.

why bother staying when left with the feeling that there is zero support from PSW due to decisions made by ….. I have no idea who by. Why bother being part of something where it feels all the suggestions and feedback that has been provided by variety of people feels to have gone nowhere. Why bother anymore about anything

@Chasingsunsets @Bow @Shaz51 @Mortimer_3 @RachSANECEO @Dimity @Teal @Captain24 @DogMan79 @MatchaToad

I'm just browsing the first page of new threads, which is the home page of the forum

And I notice that PSWs, Moderators etc have been more attentive to the recent threads 🙂