Hi,your not alone,talking to someone i find to be very helpful,get an outsiders persective on things.

What was thought to be taboo many years ago is comon place now.Hence this site,do not bottle things up.life thses days is sometimes difficult,my therapist educated me on an activity called mindfullness,helps me.For me its about setting a new perspective,it wont happen over night but while im in that headspace it takes me out of the dark place

Hi it’s Bec

i have my driving lesson tomorrow and I am really anxious about it

Hi Wazzar61 and Bec06, We appreciate you reaching out here. As this is the ‘The forum FAQ thread’ it would be help the community in following your journey if you post in your own thread rather than in this section. If you are having difficulty starting a new thread, take a look at the first post on this thread and it will walk you through how to do so.

Hi, my question is really directed to the forum management team,

I have been questioned, more like challenged, by a colleague as to the efficacy of our forum. Aside from anecdotes and "gut feel" I felt quite unarmed in the discussion. Can you please share the results of any recent quantitative research that demonstrates the value, success or otherwise of the forum? I ask because I know this issue will be raised with me again.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Summer Rose,

I'm sure you will get a reply soon but just in case I figured I would share a place you might like to start searching for articles.

www.tandfonline.com (I searched for mental health support and it came up with heaps of articles). Hopefully while you wait you can find some data to support your arguments here.

There are and will always be people who cannot see the benefit of peer support even with stats and evidence. My husband is one. He has never been able to understand why writing and replying here helps me.

My point is argue away by all means (I do too 😊) but what truly matters is how you feel about the forums and the benefits you experience. All the stats in the world cannot make someone understand what living with a mental illness is like. But we keep trying anyway.

Nat

Hi Nat

Thanks for your reply and the external link.

I am very passionate about bb and it's work and strongly believe in the organisation. Generally speaking, bb has such a positive public image that I was initially quite taken aback by the questioning around the value of the forum.

I really shouldn't have been, as all public organisations face scrutiny. Enormous amounts of money and time and effort are spent across the mental health spectrum and accountability is important for all players.

All of us here on the forum, in a sense, personify the bb brand. We are bb. And the way we talk about the organisstion in the community matters. I just wanted some support to ensure my messsging was on point, particularly as I'm dealing with someone who is a quite senior "mover and shaker" in my industry.

I'm going to do my own research, as I'm sure the type of information I want is probably already available in the public arena. And, if it's not, I don't think it likely that it will be shared here.

Thanks again for your reply

Dear Summer Rose

If you search for Anthony McCosker and Beyondblue you will find there is sound academic research in the public arena which very much validates the worth of this forum. He has at least 3 papers. Dr McCosker (Swinburne) is not the only source, but a good start.

HTH

Croix

Hi Summer Rose,

Sorry for the delay in following up on your post. Quite a bit of research has been done on the efficacy of the forums:

1. A total of 3,385 registered forum users completed a 20-minute online survey about their forum experiences in three annual waves between 2015 and 2017. This enabled Beyond Blue to gather detailed member feedback for optimising the content, structure and functionality of the forums and to track improvements over time. Key findings included:

Symptom reduction: more than half of members report feeling less depressed (54 per cent) or less anxious (56 per cent) after access

Access to professional support: 36 per cent of members claim to have contacted a health professional as a direct result of using the forums

Increasing connectedness: 38 per cent of members claim to have talked to someone close to them about depression or anxiety as a direct result of using the forums

Lifestyle changes: 66 per cent of members indicate a behaviour change such as diet, meditation, exercise or reduction of drugs/alcohol consumption as a direct result of using the forums.

2. In-depth interviews with 10 “community champions”, volunteers on the forums who primarily post in support of others, conducted in 2017; coupled with a qualitative and quantitative analysis of thousands of posts made on the forums over a six-month period between December 2016 and May 2017. This project “drew out the processes through which key intermediaries…are able to provide effective networks of support”. You can read this project here: https://researchbank.swinburne.edu.au/items/8a418055-9dd0-4a5f-90f8-86c2c2ceda50/1/

3. Quantitative and qualitative thematic analysis of 1,832 posts to the Suicidal Thoughts and Self-Harm sub-forum made between June and July 2017. This project specifically examined benefits and barriers to forum usage for members at times of serious mental health crises. You can read this project here: https://www.qfcc.qld.gov.au/knowledge-and-resource-hub/turning-online-peer-forums-suicide-and-self-harm-support-%E2%80%9Cit-does-help

*

There is still some skepticism about the value of online services for mental health, but I would encourage your colleague to search the literature as the evidence base is growing year on year.

Hello Croix and Chris

Thanks to both of you for your replies.

The four talking points highlighting key findings (supplied by Chris) of the recent bb research is gold. This is exactly what I was after. I will follow through and read the research papers as well, as my interest is now keen, but I already feel much better informed and much better prepared to answer questions. Thank you again!

Summer Rose, hi everyone ☺

Good on you supporting and talking about BB. I do too a LOT and SO many people have experienced or heard good about BB.

I'd like to add a few things in support ☺

I have several mental health (MH) conditions and am slowly making some very good progress.The majority of this I credit to bb.

Depression and anxiety seeming to be the base to most issues are treatable.

Extensive research and knowledge is being shared experience ideas suggestions help caring people feeling less alone in a safe non judgemental excellently run and moderated enviroment is absolute GOLD! Full credit and support to BB. Behind the scenes & every person here contributes. Power to all.

People are talking here. This is what we need to be doing in society.

What they've learnt and from life experience many have overcome and/or in the process of recovery and improvement.

I believe the high level of support care and understanding from the community here is because they know and live the hardships of having poor MH.

Reading other threads is invaluable.

We can talk without fear of being misunderstood mocked or judged. Pretty hard to beat that. Here's what life should be about.

I know of many people here that their lives have been saved and changed/ing for the better.

My deepest appreciation and eternal thanks to you BB ☺⚘You're a class act.

🌱new beginnings

🕊peace is attainable.

Best to you Summer and everyone ☺

Hi Demonblaster

I hear you, sister, and I agree 100 per cent with everything you said. I know it too, in my heart and in my soul. Joining this forum is one of the best things I have ever done.

Some people outside of our circle have a little catching up to do. And for another sub-group of those people, facts and figures carry more weight than anything else. That's okay, that's life. But at least now I have those figures at my fingertips and I can be more persuasive with that subset. I'm grateful to all of you for your replies.

Kind thoughts to all

Hi there, I was trying to start a new post, but can’t see where to start one. I’m trying to find free, social groups in Sydney for people with depression, but when I go to meet up I could only see the ones in Brisbane. Does anyone know of any in Sydney? Thanks :)

Hi Zala, welcome to the forums.  If you read back to the first post in this thread, we address both of these questions.  There are screenshots and instructions for how to start a new thread there.  Below is a copy of the question relating to support groups:

Where can I find a doctor/psychiatrist/psychologist/support group in suburb/town/city?
This is an anonymous forum, so we can't provide recommendations for services in specific areas.  You will find links to practitioner directories in our Find a professional section, and information on support groups is available on the Black Dog Institute site here.

Hi guys

I didn't know where else to post this, but can you actually delete your account, and what happens when you do that? Will it get rid of my posts, or will they remove the screen name from the posts or will it just remain the same?

Sierra

Hi Sisisierra and all 😊

Yes you can delete your account the rest I'm not sure I think it might all stay. Got a feeling I read about that in the forum rules. Good luck and someone will know.

I saw this not long ago here but couldnt find it sorry that it'll be repeated.

I noted a reply today to Faithfall a new post day before yesterday I think. Summer Rose you replied I can't quite remember the name it had loneliness in it. I did several searches for name and word no go. Somehow I managed to lose the thread good on me just when I was going to post.

Still cant see it again in new threads but it returned yesterday probs cause Summer replied. Any clues please. Ta 👍

Hi again sisisierra

Just checked yes last post in community rules. Yes it'll all stay the same.

Best to you and everyone

Hi Sierra,

When your account is deleted, any posts made prior to deletion remain on the forum. Your avatar is removed from the posts and your display name is changed to "Guest". Due to the volume of posts, we will not be able to remove your display name from posts made by others in replies to you. Please feel free to reach out to the moderation team at modsupport@beyondblue.org.au if you have any further questions or concerns about your account.

 

Hi demonblaster,

The thread 'coping with loneliness' can be found under the 'Welcome and Orientation' section. 
 

Thanks Sophie ☺

Hey demonblaster, Hey Sophie,

Thanks for the responses + tips. I did, however forget to ask about somethings else. How exactly do you delete posts? And I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be able to edit them either. Of course I forgot to mention that.

All the best, Sierra

That's ok Sisisierra and thanks.

We can't delete posts but if you "Report post" on top R) of the post you can ask the mod if it can be.

In the future we'll be able to edit I believe.

Cya ☺

Hi Addisain and welcome to the forums. This is a friendly and supportive place.

It must be awful coping with inflammation of the skin.

As this is the ‘The forum FAQ thread’ it would be help the community in following your journey if you post in your own thread rather than in this section.

If you are having trouble starting a new thread, have a look at the first post on this thread and it will show you through how to do so.

Quirky

I am the same as you. I have just joined and have no idea how to introduce myself or start a conversation. Olease help. Roblyn56

Robyn,

Welcome to the forum. I know it can seem a bit confusing at first but you have written your first post.

As this is the ‘The forum FAQ thread’ it would be help the community in following your journey if you post in your own thread rather than in this section.
If you are having trouble starting a new thread, have a look at the first post on this thread and it will show you through how to do so.

I will look out for your thread and look forward to chatting to you.

Once again welcome.

quirky

I am still totally confused. I have no idea what a thread is and no idea about how to start a conversation or even find the first post in a thread. It is all a foreign language to me. I cant even find the my thread tab. Not the smartest with technokogy.

Hi Robyn and all ☺

Every time you or someone writes here its called a post.

This is a thread we're posting now in which has a title and posts. (People writing)

If you scroll to the top of the page below the 5 Red buttons (rectangle shape with community rules etc) just below says forums, click on that and you'll be taken to the beginning where below the Red buttons again is ...

All posts, New posts and My threads.

To get to the first post one way is to click on the thread title on the Left side, not the persons name that last posted.

All the best ☺

I really despise my appearance so much. I am quite lonely and don’t have many friends. My interests are so much more diverse to all my colleagues as they are as well young and like ‘trendy’ things that do not simply interest me.

Nobody likes collecting records, antiques, painting, reading vintage literature, wearing old 60s clothes who are my age. I feel because my interests are different people do not want to approach me. I feel my looks are a let down and wish, so much I could just get plastic surgery or hide away from people forever, in order to be considerate of other people’s eyes. I’m a misfit. I’m so lonely. Most of my extended family fight a lot and are very dysfunctional. I feel so let down, lonesome, worried and concerned.

Hi PsychedelicFur and all ☺

Welcome to the forums.

I like your name btw

Not good how you're feeling about yourself.
Life's so much harder when we don't like ourselves isn't it.

Because this threads for frequently asked questions (FAQ) you're more likely to be heard and supported if you start a thread of your own.
If you're unsure how Sophie our head moderator has explained in the first post here. Any questions sing out.

If you'd like to let us know your thread title here I'd be happy to support you

All the best to you and everyone 🕊

Robyn

I am sorry I confused you and I know how difficult it is at times if you do t know the the words. I have learnt from this and will try to explain more clearly next time "

I hope you have worked out how to start your own topic thread.

i will check here in case you need help.

Thanks DB for your helpful reply.

Psychedlicfur

Welcome and thanks for your post. I like all those things you like collecting but I am older and can see it would be hard for you when no one your age has similar likes.

DB has been helpful with suggestions .

If you have any more questions post here and I will look out for your post.

Quirky

Thank you. I appreciate it immensely. ☮️🌈