new to the group

I am a nursing student. We are currently studying depression and mental health. We are required to join an online support group. I am looking forward to learning more about this topic.

... well.. we're here to support one another and to reach out for support, rather than be subjects of study for a class. I find that a bit offensive. I hope you can understand that. I am very surprised the class instructor suggested such an intrusive idea.

I appreciate, though, your honesty is your post.

i take that offensively too

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mediflight1 said:
I am a nursing student. We are currently studying depression and mental health. We are required to join an online support group. I am looking forward to learning more about this topic.

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I think you should check with the "administration" (Dr. John?) here before continuing. There may be some rules about it.

While I am flattered that your class "requires" you to join a support group in an effort to learn more about depression and mental health, it is unfortunately not one of the missions of this particular support community (to educate professionals or professionals-in-training).

While you are welcomed here as someone who is dealing with depression in your own life, or in the life of a loved one or friend, I know most people would rather not be "studied" in this manner. If you're only here to fulfill a course requirement, I suggest you find another support community for that purpose.

Thanks,
DocJohn

Medifight1,
I would share with your instructor the responses you have received from this community. I am a professor myself and I can appreciate the educational value an assignment like the one you described. However, the people that post here are already facing a lot of judgment from others who don't really understand their situations. They do not need to be unwilling subjects in your class experiment. I would suggest that you ask your instructor if your educational institution's IRB board would have some concerns about this class assignment. Even though your "research" is likely informal it still is questionable, ethically.

Depending on the type of course you are taking (lecture/seminar) you might suggest to your instructor a class debate on this topic. If you were a person (who is struggling to deal with a mental illness, who for whatever reason feels alone, who is at his/her wits end, and who has finally reached out for support by others) would you want some college student ease-dropping and taking notes on your postings for a class paper?

Personally I do not think it is ethical to use people as study subjects (informal case studies, etc) without their permission. When my students are assigned a case study or an assignment where they are working with an actual patient, the patient must be informed and must consent to being part of this type of analysis. In addition during these assignments I make it part of the assignment to discuss privacy issues and the steps students and practitioners need to take to comply with not only the law and standards of professionalism, but just common decency. It is always important for health care workers to remember that they are dealing with PEOPLE not just pathologies to be studied. This is especially important when dealing with mental health issues.

I my opinion, if you are not suffering from depression or are not personally affected by a love one suffering from depression, then you don't need to be here. This is just my opinion and other group members may feel differently. I am confident that if they do they will post it :-)

I am here to learn how to communicate better with others (--hopefully then transfer these skills to my off-line life), to share insight and experiences with people who are or have been in my situation, and to ultimately help myself get better and avoid becoming depressed again. The people here have been very helpful to me. I hope at some point I can eventually be of help to someone else. I am not interested in being one of your study subjects. I do not give my permission for you to study my postings even though I cannot stop you from doing so.

is any place safe? I'm new here too and having a Reeeeeeally BAD day. Very depressed... was looking for a spot where I could just vent my life .. the crap i was born into .. blahblahblah ...
While i appreciate the honesty of this person who wants to "study" those of us with mental health issues - i do not appreciate the Fact that that immediately alters my freedom to post. At least my freedom to post 'freely'..without feeling like someone is looking over my shoulder .. scrutinizing, judging and maybe even laughing at me.
Likely not the case - But certainly how I Feel. and how now do I know that in reading what I may have posted, my true identity would be found out and that could put me in real danger from a psycho family! Geeeez ..

Can someone please tell me i'm safe here? I am in dam near desperate need of support, hanging by a frikkin thread and now this.

I'm sorry.. I'm new .. maybe I should leave this to those of you who've been here for sometime .. please accept my apology if I've overstepped .. sorry..

jasmine

Jasmine,
I don't believe there is any place that is truly safe either online or offline. For all we know there are many people tracking and studying our posts. The student who started this thread has likely reported back to her professor and how has changed her username or move on to another forum. Now the instructor will like tell her students in the future to blend in and play the part of a depressed person while completing the assignment. I'm sure some of the professionals that seem to run this site are getting something out of it --material for books, scenarios to discuss in Counseling 101, there has got to be some extrinsic motivation for them. Sorry if I sound cynical DocJohn--I'll blame it on my depression :-)

As for me I've decided to take the risk and communicate with others. Because for me the alternative was to let my brain run out of control at quantum speed without an outlet. I was on cognitive overload and was getting ready to crash hard. Although somewhat addicting, I've been able to learn a lot from the others on this forum. It is giving me an outlet that I desperately need until I can overcome my inhibitions, trust people, and figure out how to communicate openly in face-to-face interactions.

Jaz,
Don't let this student send you back into hiding. Stay...read...and post when you feel like you want to.

Thanx McKell .. I know you're right .. I'm just so down these days . .. can't find the "light switch" .. defensive, ready for rejection .. anyway.. sorry.
I know you're right .. thanx

I don't think it's such a terrible idea. Better to hang out around the boards and read about real people who are going through real stuff than to get some misguided information elsewhere. I can completely understand why others would think it's offensive.

I guess before I can really make a judgement I would have to ask what your instructor wants you to get out of joining on online community. If it's to to read and ask questions instead of going to Wikipedia or something, lol... I would say that's great. If it's for other purposes, then not great. It really depends. I don't think there is anything better or wrong with learning about depression or any other illness than from someone who is going through it-- as long as you go about it in the right way and the participants are okay with it. In my opinion, it's about stating your purpose in a more specific manner. I guess I am a bit biased being a student of psychology and and a victim of it as well, lol.

Wikipedia!!! LOL