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

I think this thread is a question for a whole mental health site, not just support forums. If you look at the top of this webpage, you see several links (home, resource directory, disorders, quizzes, ask, meds, blog, book reviews, chats, and support forums) which compose of this mental health site, called Psych Central.

What innovative ideas can you think of for an ideal mental health website??? Can't think of anything? Try Google and search "mental health" and see what other sites are doing. There's so many mental health sites reiterating the same old stuff.

Doc John, after 75 responses, thinking about it since you first posted, I'm thinking the site is PERFECT! ... Except for one thing! EMOTICONS!!! Sometimes it's so hard to SAY what we're feeling that the little faces are so much easier to click on! There are days that I need the whole specturm of emotions including the mixtures!! I don't HAVE to have the mixtures because I could just go nuts clicking. LOL

This is for BOTH the forums and chat. There's one little guy I SO miss in chat! Here he is... How about a little guy throwing his hands up in frustration... and one that walks away from something unpleasant? In short, Doc John, EMOTICONS!!! How about a little guy on his knees BEGGING!

its easier to show than to tell. i also like the idea of "this is my mood right now".

and personally, i would like something that kicks me out every now and then cause im finding im spending more and more of my sleep time here!!

Kay

DocJohn . . .

Interactivity!!! The ideal mental health site would appeal to all types of learners. Presenting any type of info should go beyond reading in 2-D environment. The website should be alive. Appeal to both professionals and consumers.

Examples:

*Psych Library should look like a library. User clicks on graphics of shelf, book, chapter, page, paragraph . . . to obtain info without scrolling down the page. Top menu buttons (list all categories) prevent user from being lost in detailed search. Library is also gateway to all info on website.

*Interactive fun learning formats (graphics/sounds)
(see http://epsych.msstate.edu/ similar to online courses)
(see http://www.exploratorium.edu/exhibits/f_exhibits.html uses different formats shockwave, flash, quicktime)
(see http://www.innerbody.com/htm/body.html uses a pictural map to navigate)
(see http://www.ibiblio.org/virtualcell/tour/cell/cell.htm uses pretty 3-D graphics)
(see http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/j...su/powersof10/ allows user control after video plays)

*Map of brain structures
(see http://www.medtropolis.com/VBody.asp . . . navigate to the brain parts . . . excellent/easy navigation)

*DSM disorders colorfully organized with sound file options
(see http://redlightwarningsignals.com/chest.html and click a symptom)

*Photos, facts, tidbits and trivia of psychology dudes like Freud.

*Psychology games
(see http://allpsych.com/games/index.html . . . of course there's better ones elsewhere online)

*Brain imaging photos . . . SPECT, MRI, PET, EEG

*Stuff for college and grad students in psychology. Lab stuff. Info exceeding Psych 101 level!!!! How to apply to grad school. How to determine what grad school to apply. Describe all the types of psych degrees and counseling degree paths. How to obtain license in counseling. What questions to ask department heads about future goal-setting, etc.

*Downloadable psychology-oriented wallpapers, screensavers, avatars, etc.

I love all of the suggestions and ideas!! They are all very good, and I hope to take many of them to heart and see what I can do to make them a reality. I'm hoping to build that "ideal" site, from scratch, and yes, you're all welcomed to join it when it goes online (probably sometime in the 2Q 2006). It won't take the place of this one (nothing could ever take the place of Psych Central!), and I will always be here and continue to work on this one as well...

I'm going to keep this thread active, just in case something comes to you as you're browsing the Internet and you think, "Geez, this is a cool feature," you can continue to post them here.

Best,
DocJohn

Doc John, as a SUPPORT site, PC is ALREADY perfect!!!

You are too cool, Doc! I tried posting to this earlier while surfing from my cell phone, but there was an unfortunate browser error after I hit "continue". Anyway, with all the techno gadgets and geeks like me who have them, I love when a www site is accessible by wap!

and WE rock! Par-tay!

Beyond the ideas I've posted... something in the operation/admin area: a community offering of a mediated chat among/between members with and issue between them... would help. On a mental health site the problem of communicating is often complicated by the member's disorders... real chat time with a mediator might prevent ongoing misunderstanding?

BTW DocJohn, the updated home page looks good!

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DocJohn said:
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

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READ what the man said he is not referring to this site ...some of you keep talking on THIS site...its NOT about this site

Ok still thinking... I've been on many other sites, most that are declarative they are NOT support sites... yet, even those (with forums and chats) have a way to "report" IRL someone who is threatening suicide. I really think this needs to be addressed on an ideal site. In the long run, it would prevent members who might cry wolf, from doing so... the repercussions would do that, but also, the KNOWING that others WILL respond by alerting their local police ... anyway... yes, there has to be accountability (so one member angry at another can't report and not be author of the report) But also, if it kept one person alive... someone who IRL wasn't receiving the support they really needed (you know, members share stuff online that they don't IRL).... I mean, even "AOL" chat rooms had that capability (and believe me, there wasn't much support there!) How much more, from members in touch with the "dark" side, would that caring shine through? Can we get down and dirty and put it on the line for another who is in dire straits, or not? Is this a tough call?

Sky you have a ton of ideas many are great from what I have seen ...maybe you can start a new site and control it

thanks... but no thanks I am not capable of DOING... and only sometimes of THINKING.

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_Sky said:
thanks... but no thanks I am not capable of DOING... and only sometimes of THINKING.

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Are you sure? Make some worker bee's from JMO's head do it and you can sit back and enjoy it.

Oh, hell, Sleeps! You just busted my bubble!!

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SeptemberMorn said:
Oh, hell, Sleeps! You just busted my bubble!!

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LMAO OK HOW IS THIS ? He can run the new site...the ideal one

Hi folks,

IMHO most of us here have a good idea of what is on offer in the mainstream re our problems

I would like to read more on the forum about how we have made progress ourselves, what has worked for each of us individually. How do we each cope with our difficulties, and how can we best share that around?

Cheers, M

I think the "mood scale" is a great idea and would be helpful in many ways.... and o a game room would be great too.. lol...Lots of fun things to do.. woohoo.... And a I like the "who's on line" and it surprises me that folks don't like this. I don't think of the folks that are invisible as lurkers.... I think it just gives them the choice of being private or letting their names shown they are online..

I would like some case studies on the different disorders because in college it was a case study on Dysthymic Disorder that made me realize that I think like other people. Before that, I thought I was the only person who thought that way. Now, I am wondering if my current odd thinking is like someone else's. But, I can't ask because T was out sick. I am not sure I am comfortable with idea of only people who have been Dx being allowed on the forums as one person suggested. I mean a counselor sometimes presents it as a theory. For many years, I did not know if that was Dx or a theory. I now think it was a Dx. So I wouldn't want to discourage the people who are looking for guidance on whether or not to seek help or the people who don't know their diagnoses. Also I would ask for a section for those of us who have slight mental disorders (Ie adjustment disorders). That is what T thinks I am doing now. But, I have had little luck figuring out much more than the DSM four description for that one. I think that is because it is catch all for all of us who have a high distress level and don't meet the criteria of a real disorder. However, I could just be making that up in the hopes of not having my insurance think I'm mentally ill. I just normally squirrly and quite a bit more than usual in the past month and a half.

hmmm a better censor? Plus, blocking of juvenile, offensive abbreviations like LMAO and LMFAO.

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_Sky said:
hmmm a better censor? Plus, blocking of juvenile, offensive abbreviations like LMAO and LMFAO.

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Are they offencive? i dont find them offensive, it's just an expression of laughter, something natural and spontaneous. Mabe your perception is the problem?

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NICO said:
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_Sky said:
hmmm a better censor? Plus, blocking of juvenile, offensive abbreviations like LMAO and LMFAO.

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Are they offencive? i dont find them offensive, it's just an expression of laughter, something natural and spontaneous. Mabe your perception is the problem?

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I agree Nico they are computer terms.

I don't know if this has been mentioned before or whether it could work here* but I think it would be nice to be able to divide a post into double or triple columns to enter cognitive: negative thoughts, rational mistakes, and, rational replies. To really work with the real world, all thoughts without any taboos or censorship would be required for efficacy.

~Down

In my opinion those abbreviations stand for vulgar and base wit.

Nuff said!