I'd like to think that people start building solid real world support systems soon after diagnosis. I only had my first break four years ago but through PC I've met people I consider real world friends even if it's primarily email based or Skype. The stronger my support there and with my in city friends, the better my therapy supports etc the less reliant I am on the forum. I think maybe people find the forum when they are struggling which is closer to initial diagnosis and initial diagnosis tends to be young.