Have we been forgotten about?

@Captain24 @Cuddlebear and struggling to tag matchatoad? @MatchaToad

Hey @EternalFlower

Just wanted to say welcome back! And I also really appreciate your honesty. It takes massive courage to return to a space after the hurt, frustration, and isolation of being banned, and it makes so much sense that you're feeling cautious and trying to step carefully now 💚

What you wrote about power dynamics really hits the nail on the head. It is incredibly exhausting when spaces that are meant to support mental health and disabilities end up making you feel like you need to shut up and play the role of the 'participant' or 'the user.' Real choice and control shouldn't be something you have to fight for!

I am really glad that the warmth and humour of the community here has been a bright spot for you. Take all the time you need to find your feet and feel things out again. I'm really glad that you're back! 💚

@MatchaToad the banning according to Sane's own rules is a "last resort" however I was absolutely banned, and although you are meant to be given "warnings" - one post of mine apparantly did 3 bad things, so there were no "warnings" - which I think is a bit unfair. It is very traumatic to be banned, and I thought fairly unnecessary, and at that point I didn't really want to come back. I felt humiliated and harrassed.

But having spoken to the HCC, I feel like Sane is outside of a regulatory body - HCC can't really regulate them, nor can MHWC, so we have a quite interesting situation here, where Sane is regulating itself. Of course they don't want to respond to complaints.

I think perhaps, since Sane receives chartiable donations, I would be speaking more up to bodies that support Sane charitably, or Disability organisations, but ideally all mental health services should have a regulatory body and complaint pathway. Some of the things that happen at Sane should not happen.

In regards to the questions asked here, regarding how the forums are moderated or peer support input, thats a good question.

If Sane advertises 24/7 moderation, they can't really if there are no moderators. But who's going to speak up ? And to where? And who's going to be punished? me? again? why?

@EternalFlower

I am so sorry you went through that. Hearing the details of how the ban happened sounds very jarring. To have that happen, and then to have your health plummet immediately after because of the horrific trauma that happened at Bondi within your community, I can't even imagine how heavy and isolating that period must have been for you. Thank you for feeling comfortable enough to share that here 💚

You have every right to question how any space is run. And speaking your truth about how a system impacted you is really important. I'm really glad you're here, and I'm glad you're speaking up 💚

@MatchaToad my post disappeared. Feels a bit odd. I hope ur ok.

Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing your experiences @EternalFlower I'm sure the community will have some insights to respond with in this discussion.

I encourage you to provide feedback to the SANE Feedback and Complaints page on the website if you would like to formalise this.

Thank you

RiverSeal

@RiverSeal thanks i placed specific feedback 3 days ago although im not sure if it was received as i didnt get an automatic message.

Hope ur doing well.

Sorry that you haven't received an acknowledgement of you complain within 2 working days as per the website @EternalFlower. I encourage you to contact our Service Enquiries line if you haven't heard anything early in the week: https://www.sane.org/contact-us

RiveSeal

hi @RiverSeal

is it okay please if i ask a few general questions (may be of use to others)

Just wandering -

I wrote to saneservices@sane.org (as this is where i received a response from my complaints to) -

would another email address be suitable?

I can see I wrote on the 19th May, although it was afterhours, so it would be received 20th of may. I did not get any acknowledgement so was wandering if that was normal.

No problems if it is, but i'd be keen to know if all is in the right order, and if you need me to do anything else to get the concern to the right person.

Thanks

EF

Hey @EternalFlower just wanted to say thank you for sharing and for speaking up about all of this. You are very brave.
I have experienced much of what you have shared and have felt the same way.

I had abit of a look around the HCC website today after you sharing about your experiences here. I’ve been having some issues with a support service that I receive support from and I got nowhere reaching out to the manager so been considering whether it’s worth the hassle taking it to the HCC.

but anyway, again thank you for your courage