Features you'd like to see in an ideal mental health site

I like a lot of the ideas I've read. Someone mentioned to me recently that this isn't the ideal site and I see that as really negative thinking. Remember the words....."I think I can". This could be THE ideal site, imo. I believe it will take a lot of careful listening and changing but it could be done!

I just thought of something.

Does anything truly GOOD come from Who's Online? Or does it just satisfy our curiosity, while at the same time making us a little paranoid when we see "Invisible" members or lurkers?

Maybe convert the Who's Online function to "moderators/admins online"?

I think it's helpful if you're looking to see if a particular friend is online.....if your friend tends to be visible.

Maybe more chat among individual members of the groups, say once a week for each group.

good point. Just because someone isn't listed does not mean they are not watching and just because they appear logged does not mean they are watching for example its common knowledge among the boards that I have been listed "Online" for the past 24-48 hours but I have not been sitting here the whole time. for example I wrapped my sons christmas gifts and delivered them to the caseworker, Ive minimized the window and visited other websites, Sent many emails from my private email accout, chatted on line with alot of my friends by way of msn messenger, yahoo messenger and aol messenger and their varios chat rooms, and of course a person must sleep, eat and go to appointments. personally I rarely use the who's on.

I know some have already suggested this (or something to the same effect), but I would like to be able to discuss sexuality issues. Part of it is to discuss one's own problems, but also to learn about the psychology behind some sexual desires. Obviously, that will be opinion in many cases, since there are often many views on why someone has a particular taste, kink, or whatever. This forum would also include topics like sexual dysfunction, sexual pain, sexual abuse, GLBTQ issues, sexual attitudes and beliefs, sexual misinformation, etc. On an email list for women suffering from vaginismus I used to belong to, some of the information they had was wrong or even absurd, and it would be good for people to get correct information.

Another forum would be for a touchy subject...religion. Religion causes problems for a lot of us, the way we were brought up, guilt, things like that. And I understand not wanting to stir up debate and anger, but for some of us, it's an issue. Also, some with OCD suffer from scrupulosity, and if you can't talk about religion, how do you talk about that form of OCD?

If I think of other things, I'll let you know.

Hmmm. How about a "buddy list" to replace the Who's Online feature?You could see when your friends are visiting the site without feeling like you're spying on the whole board.

Nudging people back on topic here...

Blank slate.

Not about this site.

I appreciate all of the community ideas for *this* site, and many are positive suggestions that I can take away for building a new mental health community. (And, of course, improving this community.)

But I'd like to keep this thread focused on ideas -- brainstorming here, the sky's the limit! -- on things, tools, information, whatever that you'd like to see in an *ideal* mental health site (not this site).

I love the ideas I've read so far, so please, keep 'em coming!

Thanks!
DocJohn

Think about the very first time you went online to look for mental health information about a concern of yours, or a family member's...

Did you even know the name of what it was you should be looking for? If you think about it, it seems every site assumes you know the name of the disorder or whatever is you're trying to get more information about. But what if you really don't know the name, or think you have something but it's really something else?? Wouldn't it be cool if there was some way of helping a person find what it is they're looking for even if they didn't know it's name?

Stuff like that...

[<font color="darkgreen">
<ul type="square">[*]good separation of areas regarding real disorders, other maladies, physical health, and then in those areas another breakdown for better organization, or[*] subcategory icon designation option[*] more than one icon for subject line designation... maybe one for it's topic line, and another for the mood, still another for urgency or recognition... applicable by originator of thread, post OR by mod or aide... (to help those who need help in deciding what posts to read)[*] <font color="blue">therapists on-call, available immediately for 10 min chat[*] therapist of the day (TOD) who will answer your PM within 4 hours<font color="purple">[*]general information area of definitions of health care positions, average fees, etc clickable for own geographical area[/list]
Like I mentioned, I don't "see" the line by line information source, but the columns, blocks, windows, inserts, backgrounds, designable by each member... either as fancy or as plain as the member wishes.<ul type="square">[*] alert options (visual, audible choices) for when a "buddy" comes onsite, when an update to selected information source is received, when a certain new "urgent" post is made, when someone requests chat, also<font color="green">[*]capability of receiving text messages for posts on a thread you are originator and awaiting answers (this option without disclosure of personal info to site)[*]option of having picture cam while in chatroom[*]Site references/links generated by onsite search engine, listed with each thread (like ads are here, depending upon the theme being discussed[/list]

<font color="green"><ul type="square">[*]Quizzes regarding disorders (personal inventories) to help someone figure out what might be going on with them,[*] choices of inventories (not just one source each disorder) and option of storing results (like here) for self monitoring.[*]complete dictionary of medical, psychological terms and layman definitions, maybe also linked to disorder forums, or[*]separate glossary for each disorder forum[/list]
<ul type="square">[*] better coding, easier to use than UBB! [/list]

When I first began looking for a mental health website that I could participate in, I was looking for information and understanding.

I so needed to understand more about my dx and know of others who shared the same dx. I wanted to know what their experiences where and what helped them.

I would have loved to find several things at once in a "sky's the limit" website...other's stories, specific information in all forms regarding dx's, calming background and creative release. I would love to be able to add a background or "theme" to a post to express my mood or feelings.

I would like to see the ideal forums to have specific information regarding dx within each forum; for it to be it's own little one stop world. For instance, I could go to the DD forum and it have links, references, definition of DD's, creative works by those members there, music, the whole nine yards; all within that specific forum.

The problem that I see with my suggestion is that it separates an individual forum from the community more, so it might not be ideal in some cases. However, in my "ideal" mental health website, that's what I would have loved to stumbled upon...everything right there at my fingerstips to learn, share, understand, feel peace when I'm there...all at the same place so that I don't have to go "all over creation" to find something that might pop into my mind.

Also, there are commercials on t.v. regarding dx. and medications that state symtoms and ask, "does this sound like you or someone you know?" That could be great to have a page with alot of the symptoms of various illnesses listed so that it could help direct a person to the appropriate forum(s). When I first started this "journey", I had NO CLUE as to what was wrong. All I knew was my experience. If there could be a page of experience and symptoms helping someone to narrow their search for help, it would be great!

Thanks!

KD

I'm glad to read that some of the ideas might be used at this sight. I was afraid I misunderstood. lol Will members here be allowed to join the new ideal site?

The "symptom checker" tool over at Web MD is pretty cool. The advantage here is that you can just start with your symptoms and it guides you through a little diagnostic routine and presents some possiblities...on the other hand, I see way too much self-diagnosing going on so I'd also like to see a major disclaimers as to the limitations of such a tool.

By the way, I think the "buddy list" idea is worthwhile. Not just as a replacement for the Who's Online feature here, but I think it stands on its own as a cool idea for an ideal mental health website.

when i go to my home page, there is a section that tells me which of my friends are online.

Therapist rating service by geography. Everyone votes on a 1-5 scale across a few dimensions, and supplies a narrative description of the quality of their experiences. This is kind of like how professors get rated "on the street" in university settings, so to speak.

On an ideal site there would be a feature that would somehow allow one to get a message to another member who has posted something very negative and then turned their PM system off. Perhaps through a mod...I don't know. But I don't believe in posting something that is thoughtless or "flaming" and then refusing to accept responsiblity for it..by not accepting PMs from others who might not agree with my views. That feature would be a plus in my "ideal" site. AND I do not want to get a discussion going about this. This is my idea for an "ideal" site...

Ben, thanks for giving an example of what I was trying to explain based on docjohn's suggestion! Yes, that would be VERY cool!

KD

I'd like to see the opportunity for facilitated or member-run groups. Perhaps support or skill building groups where there might be a regular meeting/chat time, but you could also check in anytime and post messages, homework or activities, etc.

I'm thinking this might be a cool way to work on something like Linehan's DBT skills training or something similar such as other workbooks and self-help activities.

gg

I would like a chatroom that I could access.

I like the Rate the Therapist already provided (here) ... I really didn't think about listing the things already thought of (at this site) ... and if I could arrange things my own way, it would be easier to find! Wishing more would list their therapist(s)..
<ul type="square">[*]Certainly scheduled, directed chats with advertisement of topics in advance would be welcomed,[*] personal reminders of chats(optional sign up for this?)<font color="green">

Distractions![*] Capability to play online games with other members (only) onsite.[*] Ongoing word games or competitions within the site.[*] Optical illusions, burning candles, etc other visuals to "View" with optional meditative music/sounds to listen to at same time...[*] <font color="blue">yoga, tai chi movements, videos to practice along with[*] how to: breathing exercises, stretching exercises, imagery exercises etc videos[/list]

<font color="purple">
<ul type="square">[*]How about a GOOD NEWS area? We all need to read the heartwarming stories of the general public good guy... Maybe even a ticker tape...but it needs to be adjustable in speed if so (like S L O W ) lol[*]choice of levels of "ignore" COMPLETE ignore, meaning you don't see them online, you don't see any of their posts, not their s/n, etc and not even any thread they might begin[/list]

Being it's all a dream deal..I want a site that what I THINK would get typed and spell checked so I would not have to type

There are some good suggestions here. I know that a Bi-racial and a GLBT forum have been suggested in the past but I really feel this would be a great asset to this community. In addition, someone mentioned resources for PDocs and T's. Maybe some resources for low to no income services as well.

More smileys is also a good idea .

I like JustBens suggestion of something like the webmd site. That would be great.