Forum changes

@Former-Member

this was the method that I was told by a fellow member to gain some assistance from someone trained to handle a delicate or vulnerable situation

I have read most of the responses...sorry in advance...have not pressed like for everyone..most of the responses I have agreed with and not had the energy to press like for everyone..

I have noticed a gradual shift in the feel of the forum in the last twelve months that I have been on here..

there certainly are many new members which is a positive sign that this system works most of the time...

there are also more threads...some by the same people who have a need to have their say about a certain topic and receive feedback.....others want to write something about themselves or how they are feeling without upsetting or hurting others on a different thread....others want to draw more attention to themselves...might help them feel more valued...

we are all different...

less and less moderators....definitely....

some posts which at one stage would have either been removed .....a moderator response stating anger could be triggering for others whilst we do acknowledge that anger is a true feeling...

I have even read racist comments which offend and infuriate me...

whilst I understand the belief behind the value in gaining support from our peers on here....as others have mentioned we still need to feel safe....

we are not on here because we are counsellors or want to purely respond to others in need...that is an outcome from us being listened to ourselves....

bottom line we are still unwell...vulnerable..sensitive...delicate

we are also carers of ourselves...yes carers forum also needs all of the above...no different

I read this and thought I would post this to remind Sane as this is not about the moderators only...this is about change within Sane...so these comments need to be referred to Sane...

this is what I read:

Seek support. Make connections. Share your experience.

Our Carers and Lived Experience forums are communities for people affected by mental illness. They’re safe, anonymous and moderated 24/7 by mental health professionals.

These forums do not provide crisis counselling. If you need urgent help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or in an emergency call 000.​

Faith has brought up an extremely valid issue...

how do we still know that these threads are being moderated 24/7 by mental health professionals when some of the above comments I have made as well as comments from others indicate that we do not feel this?

Please take this as vital feedback ....without feedback there cannot be change...

we too need vital feedback...thank you

hi @Former-Member,

Thanks for your feedback, ill pass it onto @NikNik.

your points are totally valid. there have been many changes recently, however i have no say in the matter (and im fairly sure neither do other mods). in saying that im sure your feedback will be listened to.

there are a wide range of mental health professionals, some with psychosocial backgrounds (such as myself) and others who may be psychologists, and others who may be psychiatrists, others who are nurses, others who are social workers..and many more. We all tend to have diferent ways of approaching things.

maybe there could be a list of mods including their backgrounds so everyone can see what the mods backgrounds is? i wonder if that would help?

any other suggestions that address any of the issues you mention? If you feel it would be helpful perhaps you may like to start a new thread related to this?

thank you for such a prompt response @NotLabelDefined

yes actually I personally would like a thread started by the moderators about the moderators...just one thread though please...

when I am struggling I cannot remember all of the threads and this can even though it should not add to my dilemma...

I sometimes wonder about those of us who are quiet...silent observers...uncomfortable in speaking up...fearing they cannot match....those of us who fit in this category would gain much from knowing who is actually here for us 24/7 as in names...qualifications etc. again in one place easily accessible on both forums ...we must not forget carers

thank you again for understanding and respecting our needs.

also realising that we are not wanting to criticise any of the moderators or setup...

just feel validated...

@NotLabelDefined While I like your suggestion of a list of mods and their backgrounds I believe this could actually lead to issues/problems with how some mods are perceived. Also I think it is important for there to remain a sense of anonymity (as far as is possible) for the moderators - both for their and members well-being. Over familiarity can also lead to a feeling of being less safe - especially if issues/conflict arises between members and/or moderators (although this is unusual and highly unlikely - it is still possible).

Any information a moderator chooses to disclose about themselves should be their choice - and done so from the persepctive of what they are happy to disclose. We already have threads where moderators have introduced themselves - and they have chosen what to write about themselves.

The SANE site already has a list of SANE staff which includes the role and degree/educational level of HC counsellors, moderators, community managers, etc. This does not include turning point or night moderators or those that are on less regularly.

Knowing that all mods are mental health professionals should be enough regardless of their background, experience, position, etc.

@Faith-and-Hope @Phoenix_Rising @Faith-and-Hope @Shaz51 @eth @Zoe7 @Maggie @CheerBear @Sans911 @Former-Member @Determined

help me out here please...I cannot think of other names right now so please add some more people

what do we all think about comment made in response from @NotLabelDefined

do we need another thread?

I certainly would like to have a special area where all moderators names are listed with their qualifications etc..for both carers and lived experience that is easily accessible not swallowed up on the normal thread page...no disrespect intended...just the way it works...

should we have this as a topic night?

ideas ...keep on writing....we are being heard

more voices....keep this alive

this is our moment people

;do not worry about how you say it just say it..within the guidelines of course

no judgement here

Hi @Former-Member, I have taged you in the "Meet the Moderators" Thread

Hello again 🙂 Lots of great points and interesting questions so I'll respond in a couple of posts rather than create the worlds loooongest reply. I'll focus on the forums in the first one and then the Help Centre in the second. I've tried to respond to all your points but let me know if I've missed something.

The key theme that runs through nearly all your posts is the absence of moderators in the forums of late. Those that have been around a while experienced times where the forum was being very actively nurtured into existence. So it's completely understandable to look around now and think 'where have they gone?' Even those who are newer have noticed a change which reinforces that it's something we need to take on board and reflect on.

There are a few factors at play here which some of you have already flagged. Most obviously, the increase in members and conversations requires that we spend more time in the background reading posts to ensure the safety of the forum. This has changed remarkably – and wonderfully given the growth it reflects – over the years and has heavily influenced our ability to be present in the ‘front end’. This is most true in the evening where it can be a challenge to simply keep up with the posts.

Another factor, again referenced in some of your responses, is the balancing act that moderation requires where we want to be present enough for people to feel safe but not so much that we undermine the power and benefits of peer support. It’s been great to hear your take on this: Needing to feel watched over rather than watched; About how our social time in here builds up trust; And how a lesser presence can make people feel like we’ve ‘unloaded’ responsibility. This was certainly never our intent. We are trying to adapt to the growth and strengthening of peer support within the forums. Sometimes we worry that to jump in with our ‘expert’ hat can undermine the brilliant support that you give each other. Your feedback tells us that it's time to reflect on the balance we've struck.

I guess the last key change has been to how we manage evening moderation. For the past few years a very small group of moderators took turns to watch over the forums in the evenings. Two of them came from a partner organisations that was re-thinking their ability to continue supporting the forums in this way. It was also becoming too busy for one individual working remotely to cope. This meant that it was time for a re-think.

We’ve been able to bring the evening moderation into the Help Centre – where it sits during the day – and continue the same service model and level of resourcing across 12 hours rather than 8. It has meant four new moderators who are currently learning the ropes. Given that they work in the evenings which are significantly busier and require more ‘back end’ work, it’s inevitably a slower process for them to become integrated.

I think it’s worth noting that there have been dramatic changes to the moderation team over the years as staff and partner organisations have come and gone. On the back of that it’s entirely possible that we under-estimated the impact of the evening changes. The level of resourcing is the same – in fact stronger in that the moderator now has a team around them – but some of the ‘faces’ are new. As Zoe pointed out, or maybe it was Pheonix Rising, this will impact some people more than others as the needs and wants of members to interact with mods differs.

There were a couple of specific questions too. F&H wondered if it’s okay to tag moderators. The answer is absolutely yes. If we are slower to respond, it’s a reflection of our workload and shift pattern. For me, where I was once more present in the forums, my time is now greatly absorbed by a pilot program we’re running in the HC with Lifeline. It finishes at the end of this year which will happily free up more time for core HC and Forum business.

Nell23, you wondered about how relationships form between members and mods. It tends to evolve over time and I guess reflects life generally where we gel more strongly with some than others. We’re mindful of the potential for those connections to make others feel excluded. As we’ve had less time in social spaces it’s become less likely for those connections to form which is something we’ll take on board.

So…….that was a bit long huh?! It can probably all be summed it all up with: We hear you and it’s time for some reflection. When NikNik is back from her break we’ll spend some time working on the right balance and be sure to communicate our thoughts.

Part two regarding the Help Centre to follow later on. If you made it this far, go make yourself a cup of tea 🙂

Hi @Phoenix_Rising, Lauz should be back Monday so you can @ mention me if you need anything in the meantime 🙂

@Former-Member I agree with you that there needs to be transparency about what exactly a "mental health professional" is.

As many people in Forum Land know, I have had numerous horrendous experiences with psychologists and psychiatrists over the years. Thus I do not in any way whatsoever consider them somehow "better" than, say social workers, counsellors or mental health peer support workers. Indeed, for the most part, I have had better experiences with social workers and counsellors than I've had with psychologists or psychiatrists. As @Sans911 suggested, the actual piece of paper or the letters that a person has (or doesn't have) after their name is of much less relevance than other things they bring to the role such as empathy, respect etc.

Having said that, I think there needs to be transparency on the issue. For example, do some Forumites think that the term "mental health professional" is limited to those with a university level mental-health related qualification?

As @Zoe7 said, there is a list of the qualifications of SANE staff on the website here. However, this obviously doesn't entirely answer your question @Former-Member because the moderators are for the most part not identifiable based on their Forum name. Nor is it clear to someone who may not be familiar with the University system, precisely what the letters after each person's name mean.

Thus I think you raise an important point @Former-Member, which is relevant to the current situation.