I have a problem that goes beyond this.

Reporting on negative experiences in the mental health sector DOES NOT BREACH THE GUIDELINE OF ENCOURAGING HELP SEEKING BEHAVIOUR

I have attempted to raise this issue a number of times

I am an active help seeker, always have been always will be. I'm firmly of the opinion that nobodyis an island and most things that need to be done are best done with team members and allies by one's side.

That being said I do not understand HOW IT IS THAT SANE BELIEVES THAT IT IS BREACHING HELPSEEKING ENCOURAGEMENT TO TALKA ABOUT VIOLENCE, ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION?

I even had a post deleted telling people about the ROYAL COMMISSION INTO VIOLENCE, ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN ALL ENVIORONMENTS AND SETTINGS AND ABOUT THE HOTLINE THEY COULD CALL FOR  INFORMATION.

how, in the name of all things reasonable is REPORTING ON A HELPFUL SERVICE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED VIOLENCE, ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION AND THE TRAUMA RESULTING FROM SUCH EXPDERIENCES POSSIBLY BEING INTERPRETED AS NOT ENCOURAGING HELP SEEKING?

HOW IS ANY REPORT OF GENUINE AND REAL ABUSE DISCOURAGING HELP SEEKING? RATHER THAN MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THE RISKS AND BENEFITS? SOME PEOPLE MIGHT REPORT HARM OTHERS MIGHT REPOR HELP, IF THERE IS A FEAR THAT ALLOWING PEOPLE TO REPORT HARM WILL TAKE OVER AND NOT BE BALANCED BY THOSE WHO FOUND THINGS HELPFUL ISN'T THAT A SIGN THAT WE HAVE A VERY SICK SYSTEM THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE AND THAT APPROPRIATE HELP SEEKING IS SEEKING HELP FOR THAT CHANGE?

HOW CAN A PERSON SEEK HELP FOR A PROBLEM IF THEY AREN'T ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT HTE PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE??? CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO ME? IF I REPORT ABUSE AND TALK ABOUT ABUSE, ISN'T THAT PART OF DISCUSSING WHAT HELP IS OR ISN'T AVAILABLE OR NEEDS OT BE SOUGHT OR PROVIDED FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED ABUSE?

WHY IS TALKING ABOUT SOMEONES BELIEF THAT THEY HAVE 'DEPRESSION' NOT CONSIDERED TO BE 'DISCOURAING HELP SEEKING' WHILE SOMEONE TALKING ABOUT ABUSE IS?

IF I BELIEVE I HAVE 'DEPRESSION' AND I SEEK HELP FOR IT, WHY SHOULD I NOT BE ALLOWED TO SEEK HELP FOR HAVING EXPERIENCED ABSUSE?

AT NO STAGE HAS ANY REASONABLE BASIS BEEN OUTLINED ABOUT HOW DISCUSSING REAL ABUSE IS DISCOURAGING HELP SEEKING - IT'S JUST SEEKING HELP FOR A DIFFERENT PROBLEM, ONE THAT IS WELL AND TRULY IN THE WHEELHOUSE OF DISTRESS.

THE DEFINITION OF 'MENTAL HEALTH' IS CHANGING AWAY FROM A DISEASE OR DISODER FOCUS AND TOWARDS THE SENSE OF WELLBEING AND DIGNITY THAT ALL HUMANS DESERVE TO ENJOY. THIS CHANGE IN DEFINITION IS BEING CHAMPIONED BY THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR DANIUS PURAS, IT HAS FEATURED PROMINANTLY OR BEEN THE SOLE TOPIC OF HIS ANNUAL REPROTS FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS HE IS THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE RIGHT TO QUALITY PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE - SO IMPORTANT IS THIS TOPIC THAT IT HAS DOMINATED THE REPORTS RELATING TO BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS AND COUNTING.

SO WHY IN GODS NAME WOULD IT BE CONSIDERED 'DISOCOURAGING HELP SEEKING' TO DISCUSS ABUSE? THE HARDER IT IS TO FIND HELP THE MORE IMPORTANT IT IS TO FIND HELP, DISCUSSING THESE ISSUES IS NOT DISCOURAGING HELP SEEKING IT IS ENCOURAGING BOTH HELP SEEKING AND THE PROVISION OF GENUINE HELP WORTH SEEKING

PLEASE FIND THE LATEST REPORT FROM THE UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR BELOW, THE PRESS RELEASE THAT SUMMARISES THIS REPORT IS STILL PENDING

https://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/HRC/41/34

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@s-jay wrote:

We’ve been listening and have heard members when they tell us that its difficult when their posts get moderated for talking about negative experiences seeking help.

 

So in response to your feedback we are taking action and want your input on how to improve.  We are reviewing the guideline below that currently sits under Safety:

(please share helpful content, focussed on wellbeing, recovery and help seeking behaviours) 

 

As well as feedback from members we also find it tricky from a moderation point of view.

 

We honour those that have had very real difficult and negative experiences seeking help within the mental health service sector. We know that the support system does struggle to allow for the complexity that exists in mental health issues.

 

People should be able to get support from their peers about this. At the same time we also need to acknowledge the positive experiences and also be extremely mindful of how discussions may impact another person’s help seeking/recovery journey. For those that may still be in a process of gaining courage to reach out, we want to be sure we do not leave them feeling a bit deterred to take that next step.

 

The guideline above has the right intentions, but it is too broad and leaves too much room for interpretation. This results in inconsistency – things being over or under-moderated. The suggestion is to remove it as a direct guideline and instead add it as a comment to the bottom of that section.

  

Posts that are seeking support from peers about a negative experience they had are not against the guidelines, though mods/community managers will probably join in the discussion. Also, if the post named a specific organisation, there is still the guideline about defamation that could be relevant.  

 

The other update we are looking to do, is to add a guideline under safety that states:

• Do not post ongoing / repetitive criticism (three posts in two weeks) of a service or the service system. If you are unsure of where to raise your concerns email team@saneforums.org for information on feedback mechanisms.

The goal of this guideline is to help avoid impacting another person’s help seeking journey. We are not trying to silence anyone but instead redirect them to us so we can help you take that feedback to the right place – as the purpose of the forums is social and emotional support

 

We are really keen to hear your thoughts on the above? How do these guideline updates make you feel? Do you think they will be beneficial to the community?

 

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