[Travelinglady]

We've had a request to start a forum on "racial identity issues and mental health" by someone who says his long-term mental health woes come from this matter. I have also encountered other people here who have struggled with this issue. What can be done to help these folks have a place to talk about it? Thanks so much.

[DocJohn]

Is there a thread or multiple threads on this topic in the general mental health forum or other forums?

Is there a social group on this issue?

I'd like to better understand interest in this topic in our community, and that a full-fledged forum is the best way to go vs other ways of addressing it.

[Travelinglady]

DocJohn, the person who brought it up posted it in the general questions forum. I tried to get a thread going on the topic, but the OP has never posted in it after just asking the question. I think it would be better to have a forum myself. Or maybe a social group, but that seems a bit strange for a social group topic, I think.

Here's the attempted thread. I guess I bombed out in trying to start a discussion on the topic: :Racial Identity issues and mental health

Maybe querying the OP would be the way to go?

[DocJohn]

Forums on their own don't generate topic interest. There needs to be sufficient interest and activity on a topic in order for us to start a new forum, as a general rule.

[Travelinglady]

How would that be done? Lots of threads? Questions? An active thread on the subject? Seems to me there needs to be some place for folks who want to talk about it have a chance. I hope the OP is reading this. Or other people who want to talk about it will step forward.

Okay, I'll shut up about it now. Just trying to help someone out.....

[winter4me]

I agree with @Travelinglady on this one. A forum is more likely to present a place for people to discuss this issue----look at what is happening in the country/the world, this is clearly a subject of interest and concern.

[sarahsweets]

I totally support this but does this mean only people who have experienced this can participate? I’m saying that in a supportive sense.

[amandalouise]

if asking others to add their opinions --

One one side I think it would be great to have a forum like this where people can post about their mental problems due to their race and racial problems as a whole...

but on the other side I see this as being something that could leave others here open to more problems. sort of like when for a time allowing religious discussions as allowed but then it went horribly wrong where people were feeling hurt, targeted and so forth when others were either getting preachy or shaming a particular religion, which led doc john to putting the foot down so to speak on specific religious discussions. the same with political discussions it was allowed for a time on the boards then it went horribly wrong so then those that wanted to discuss politics had to do so by way of social groups.

Again I think its worth a shot given we are in the era of BLM and along with it comes the upheaval of protests and so forth triggering ptsd and so on.

but I also see where it can go wrong too.

if its decided to go forwards with experimenting with this like has been done with religious discussions and politics may I suggest some sort of rotating schedule of mods and so on so that there will be someone online folks can go it if and when there may be a problem with this, just a suggestion mind you.

I like this idea too. But I'm not a POC. I don't want to speak for anybody else. I just heard what was said in that particular thread, and it sounds like it is something that some people want.

How would that be done? Lots of threads? Questions? An active thread on the subject?

TravelingLady, those are good questions. And I agree with Winter4me, that what is happening in the world is clearly a subject of interest and concern. AmandaLouise, I don't see having a forum as a political issue. We have a Women's Forum. And a Men's forum. Those are not political either. Maybe it is a matter of the level expressed interest that DocJohn and the admin have not seen. (Like DocJohn said).

It sounds like a good idea, there is some expressed interest, but like I said, I do not want to speak for anyone else!! Maybe a poll would help?

[Travelinglady]

DocJohn, would it be okay if we took a poll on this issue?

This thought is out of this world, but I was just thinking earlier about Mr. Spock on "Star Trek" who even as an adult struggled with being a child of a Vulcan dad and a white Earth mother.

Religious and political objections on such a forum haven't occurred to me. The purpose would be to help biracial people, not to complain about biracial relationships. And maybe I'm slow, but how would politics even come into play? I'd think regular moderation would work, but with any possible off the mark posts being reported. Thanks, though, for the warning, AL.

[NOS-NOS]

I just know I went through 26 years of depression which turned into bipolar all because of something my grandfather said to my mom. I was so disillusioned by myself that it caused my life to fall apart. I think anyone in the same situation needs to recognize the problem first, and I think an open forum might help some people realize why things went wrong in their life and finally learn acceptance and to love themselves.

I also give my vote to create this forum. I like the idea

[divine1966]

It sounds like a good idea on paper but it could also create a lot of issues with people saying insensitive triggering things to others perhaps with good intentions but lack of knowledge. It has to be either heavily moderated or it has to be more of a social group. I see it going all wrong in every way possible and causing issues instead of helping the case. Or it will be inactive due to lack of interest of being in a separate forum. Just my opinion of course

[Travelinglady]

I've probably said some things that could be perceived as insensitive already, since I'm not in that situation.

But, I was thinking it was to be restricted to people in those circumstances. Time will tell if there's even any interest, anyway, Thanks for your thoughts.

[divine1966]

I doubt they can restrict forum participation to people of particular race or ethnicity. That could come across all kind of wrong imho. But people can discuss these topics and on other subforums. Like coping with emotions etc or other mental health concerns etc

[Travelinglady]

Maybe not, but I'm not going to worry about it now. I know the men's and women's forums are restricted. The forum might not even come to be.

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

Maybe not, but I'm not going to worry about it now. I know the men's and women's forums are restricted. The forum might not even come to be.

Racial and ethnic segregation isn’t the same as things designed separately for men and women. We have separate stores for men and women clothing and men and women restrooms. I personally don’t think it would be appropriate to have separate stores or restrooms for specific races. Not the same.

So I don’t think we can really compare having men and women forums to having separate forums for participants of specific races. I don’t think it’s appropriate. Maybe I am just not understanding what exactly is being proposed here. Separate forums for different races sound very scary to me. I pray we will never have such thing. Maybe it’s just me and others think it’s a good idea.

[Travelinglady]

divine1966, I appreciate your comments, but I am through talking about this issue. You're right that gender is a different matter, but those forums were the ones that came to mind.

I am moving on to other matters in my life and on Psych Central.

[IrisBloom]

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

I've probably said some things that could be perceived as insensitive already, since I'm not in that situation.

But, I was thinking it was to be restricted to people in those circumstances. Time will tell if there's even any interest, anyway, Thanks for your thoughts.

What race, mix, ethnicity, color combo, or self identity would be the allowed participants?