A forum for people with mental health issues?

[R*R]

Originally Posted by ZDAR

Surely we have some kind of Analyst/Therapist around here...

I would say Dr. Pat but hardly anyone would get that.

[AwesomeO]

What a very autistic suggestion.

[LirvA]

Originally Posted by Mat Sklansky

This pretty much covers it unless we have some mental health professionals around who want to tend it.

I'll do it. I'm fully accredited*




*I'm insane

[tylertwo]

And I'm autistic, so we seem to have the bases covered!

[atakdog]

While I agree with the general sense that no such dedicated forum is appropriate, I don't agree with the idea, which some seem implicitly to be advancing, that all discussion of serious mental health issues is inappropriate here. No, there are not a bevy of mental health professionals hanging out ready to take questions, but there has been and probably will continue to be plenty of serious discussion of such matters in various 2p2 communities. And those discussions seem to be helpful to many — those who write the posts and who read them alike. That they are not professionally vetted nor officially sanctioned does not mean they are unworthy of note.

(I am both informed and biased by my own experience: My well thread [in POG] deals to a substantial extent with bipolar disorder, which I have, and even now, a couple years after I put that thread up, I continue to get a slow but steady stream of PMed questions and comments. And I know my experience isn't unique in this regard.)

[sheeprustler]

+1 to Atakdog. I've come to know a lot of posters who have been fairly open about mental health issues through different subsections of 2p2. It's very hard to class 'mental health' as one area. Discussion usually begins as an offshoot of something else.

[SGT RJ]

I don't think anyone is seriously stating that productive, helpful threads about mental health issues can't and haven't happened on 2p2. However, a stand alone forum that is "staffed" by actual mental health professionals is probably a non-starter, given the legal and ethical implications for mental health professionals "treating" anyone anonymously and online.

It's one thing to provide generic information/opinions if you have the requisite training, or to offer your own opinions and experiences as someone with a specific diagnosis. I think those threads are fine, properly moderated, and do a great service to the community as a whole, as well as to individuals dealing with mental health issues in themselves or loved ones/friends, or even those who just want to understand what those with various disorders go through IRL. That doesn't mean a stand alone forum mental health forum is a good idea for 2p2, though.

[Lottery Larry]

Originally Posted by Jeedz

I understand that there's a huge amount of OT here, but mental health is a specialised topic that requires specialist forums in a safe environment (especially if intended as support), that's not available here, neither is it appropriate. Discussing sports/movies/music/tv/games is one thing, discussing mental health is another.

Yeah- having it pop up in various forums is one thing, but having its own forum would, imo, risk imparting a sense of autheticity to the responses. Not sure that make sense for 2+2 from a legal sense... if only to avoid any potential hassle.

[Lottery Larry]

Just saw this- great minds think alike!

Originally Posted by SGT RJ

given the legal and ethical implications for mental health professionals "treating" anyone anonymously and online.

It's one thing to provide generic information/opinions if you have the requisite training,

That doesn't mean a stand alone forum mental health forum is a good idea for 2p2, though.

[Lottery Larry]

Originally Posted by atakdog

deals to a substantial extent with posting addiction disorder, which I have

FYP

[atakdog]

Originally Posted by Lottery Larry

FYP

atakdog
addicted

There's a reason...

[atakdog]

Originally Posted by SGT RJ

I don't think anyone is seriously stating that productive, helpful threads about mental health issues can't and haven't happened on 2p2...

No, not exactly. But it would be possible to get the impression that some are saying the subject really would be best done elsewhere. For example:

Originally Posted by killa

This is really not the place for that, if you are suffering from any of these a support group, a website dedicated or ....I know this is a stretch.actually seeing a trained professional is a far better answer.

If people want to speak about there "experience" vs looking for help or trying to help people actually battle with it any of the Community forums will take you in for a discussion. But its very very ill advised.

I don't disagree with killa here at all, to the extent he's saying that relying on 2p2 for medical help is a bad idea. Obviously it is, as is relying on 2p2 for help with anything else best left to professionals. I was just noting for the record that, even without a support-group type of forum (which, again, I agree shouldn't exist here, for the reasons noted), 2p2 can — and now does — provide help to some who suffer from such disorders. Not medical-quality help, and nothing as directed as a dedicated forum would, but positive influences nonetheless.

I was posting lest someone read less than carefully and think that the subject was or should be sort of taboo. If someone is sick, whether with a broken arm or psychotic delusions, he should seek medical help, not 2p2, but talking about this stuff is hugely helpful sometimes (and interesting for others) and it's cool to do in the proper forum. I was just making explicit what I think almost everyone here agrees about that.

[tylertwo]

Just to add, I realize that my post above looked like a joke, but I actually am on the autistic spectrum. I am very upfront about it (as if it wasn't obvious to everyone who knows me in real life, lol), but I certainly don't consider myself handicapped. It is interesting how other people deal with in the forum, but if I were truly upset about it, I don't think I would come here for that "soft and gentle" touch from everyone on 2+2.

[elrey]

Originally Posted by Horatio777

has anyone considered a forum for people struggling with anxiety, depression, obs-compulsive disorder, addictions (alcohol, gambling etc), adhd, alcoholism, bipolar, phobias, etc?

i know there's plenty of them out there and it's embarrassing to identify yourself as such but just asking because i'm curious if there has ever been any consideration.

thank you

youve obviously never been to oot

[Doc T River]

I'd have to be crazy to post in such a section.