Lived Experience Forum

[Shaz51]

AWWWW Thank you @CheerBear, and my @Former-Member

[Former-Member]

@Shaz51 ❤❤❤

[Faith-and-Hope]

Oh .... well .... this is all rather lovely, thank you .....

It sounds like we're doing a reasonable job of following through in some rather big foot-prints, because I am part of a current "crop" of CG's who are newer to the role, but others who are floating around the forums have been here longer .... some are taking a bit of a break, so we are not seeing them much for that reason .... others are more present on the Carers forum ..,,; others still have a struggle with their mi issues as the moment, or other relationships in their "outer world".

Some of these original CGs are part of the team you see active here. They are our role models too, those of us who are the "new"
CGs .....

🌷💜

[Shaz51]

Hello

 @Shaz51 , @Faith-and-Hope ,  @utopia , @Kurra , @Sahara , @Teej , @Janna , @PeppiPatty , @Mazarita , @Appleblossom , @Jacques , @lisajane @chookmojo @Louise @WombatBoots 

-- are all the Community Guides , and have helped me sooo much when I found this wondrerful forum

I am one of the newer GCs,

[Former-Member]

Goodmorning everyone ❤

[NikNik]

Hi everyone,

Here is an overview of the current CG role. We will be recruiting for a new round of CGs mid year, however, the role might look at little different. I hope this helps for now though!

 

Background

The Community Guide role was developed in 2015, after moderators and community managers noticed a group of community ‘super users’ who embodied the culture and values of the Forums. They were not just frequent users of the Forums, but were already going above and beyond to improve the community and help other members.

 With an anticipated increase of Forum promotion in October 2015, SANE decided to acknowledge these ‘super users’ for the hard work they had already put into the Forums, and encouragement to keep displaying the same qualities and commitment they were already showing.

What it takes to be a Community Guide

Community Guides are members of the SANE Forums community who live and breathe the forum values. Community Guides are:

• Warm and Welcoming
• Empathetic
• Open and non-judgmental
• Listeners
• Helpful
• Insightful

 They do this by: 

• Giving helpful advice, whether it be through their own experience or through sharing referrals
• Drawing people into conversations who may have something to contribute
• Welcoming new members
• Responding thoughtfully and in an authentic way
• Opening themselves up and sharing their own experience
• Starting new and engaging discussions
• Following the Community Guidelines
• Flagging concerning content through the ‘Report Inappropriate Content’ function
• Practicing self care
• Getting involved with Special Events, such as Topic Tuesday.

 You may see Community Guides hanging around in:

• Introduce yourself Welcoming the newest members to the community
• Topic Tuesday: Sharing experiences and encouraging discussion
• Ask Anything Monday: Helping new people feel welcome through responding to their question
• Ceelleebbraattion: Celebrating and acknowledging other members
• Friday Feast: sharing a virtual meal and having a chat

[WombatBoots]

Hi everyone, 

I'm @NikNik 's pet wombat named Matt, she even dressed me in the lovely shirt that you see in my picture.

No not true at all, I could never be petted by a *cough m&*^y supporter, being a wombat I'd rather bite her ankles. In a loving way of course. 😉

I stumbled across the forums during a google search. It was during an unwell time in my life, I was a married dad with 2 kids, searching for my identity again after I had been laid off my contract IT job because the contract had been outsourced to India. 

The forums and ALL of the people who contribute gave me a lot of strength. To be able to contribute and converse amongst peers was awesome. A part of my lived experience was a visit to hospital. It's 7 years back now, but the best therapy I recieved in hospital was listening to and sharing with others. 

I became, I guess more than a regular contributor, especially in "the friday feast", @NikNik contacted me and asked if I would be interested in being a part of a new part of the forums ... community guide ... my first thought was why me!!! After an email or two and some self doubt from me I said yes.

At around the same time (remember I am unemployed), and you can call it fate, destiny, angels, god, spirits, stars aligning, a cow, or just plain luck, I came along an online job ad for a mental health peer worker. I applied, I was succesful, I shared it amongst this beautiful online community here and you all know who you are. 

A full time job, plus 2 young kids, plus I also jumped straight into my cert 4 peer work course has meant I have been very time poor over the last .. wow nearly 2 years. 

(For those of you who know me, my wife and I seperated) 

I do have the CG on my name and I do feel guilty that I'm not as visible as i should be, but trust me I read the posts, and if anyone would like me to listen please add @WombatBoots .

I feel like I am a living piece of the power of this community.

Matt

[Faith-and-Hope]

That you are @WombatBoots .... 😊💕

[Kurra]

The power of this community is immeasurable @WombatBoots. It has certainly sustained me during rocky periods. I am now quite stable and my pdoc believes my bipolar has burnt out. The vulnerability however will always remain so I find the forum invaluable in helping me deal with the little things long before they can turn my world inside out.

Thanks for outlining your story. I believe the success stories are important here as a sign of future possibilities for those who are still struggling. 🎶

[Former-Member]

Hugs @WombatBoots 🙂 It's nice to see you and I think i speak for many when we say we're so very proud and in awe of all that you do irl! Certainly someone to aspire to with regards to your tenacity, determination and well just plain awesomeness!
Pop in any time you have a moment 🙂 It's so awesome to see you!
LJ