I am an unpaid worker in a social enterprise where the jobseekers have mental health issues and the staff in general don't. They are my bosses. They see us as poor unfortunates but not people to socialise with. As I say also they have husbands and children and their own lives. There was one who I have seen with her male friend who is also my co worker and kind of a friend (he has mh issues) when we went for a drink a couple of times but she doesn't go out much. She has to go home and cook dinner for her husband and we tend to meet after work. None of the others would go out.

Of course they haven't said that, but in their attitude and our working relationship it is obvious. They are like mental health support workers, it's a professional relationship and there are boundaries. I'm not sure the other staff would approve if they knew this woman was friendly with mh volunteers.

I certainly don't know any women my age in any other capacity. And I wouldn't go out and try and meet strangers. I don't have the confidence and am used to being shunned. As for the internet I wouldn't do that again as you never really know a person until you've met them.