Keeping safe on the message boards

We want to ensure that everyone who uses these message boards are kept safe from harm, exploitation or abuse. We know that the vast majority of service users will use the Board to give and receive support from other people who have shared similar experiences. However, there may be people who visit this site to try and gain information about users for their own purposes, and may not present themselves honestly.

This is why Beat will edit messages and remove information that we think may identify users to others, (even people that users may feel that they have got to know really well on the Board). We don’t want someone in your home town, at your college or workplace to find out something about you that you wouldn't want them to know. Try to consider that if you build up a friendship with another service user, and you converse over a long time, minor identifying details can soon pull together to easily identify and locate a service user.

Please be considerate when writing about other people. When you are writing about experiences that involve, family, friends or other people who come into contact with you, please consider carefully how what you write and post on the board will impact on them before posting your message. The boards are there to support you, and you may talk about your family, but try to consider how that family member may feel if they read on a message board details of their life, treatment, emotions and behaviours. It is important to also consider how you might identify them within your posts to keep them and you anonymous.

We have written a set of guidelines which will tell you what content may be edited from the message boards. This is our way of ensuring that the Board remains a space where you will be safe from exploitation but where you can find friendship and support.