Anon Users

Re: Anon Users

Mark Hedberg — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:43:19 GMT

Good to hear!

Personally, I appreciate your position, but I think you might be a little too worried about your conflict of interest with your brother. Now, if you were recommending him as a company to go off and invest in some Nigerian finance scheme, yes, that's a problem, but a company that supports people with mental health is a different kettle of fish, I would think.

Certainly you can disclose your relationship, but if it could help someone here, why not? (Fine, don't call it the Official VetSurgeon.org approved mental health company, but telling people something exists is not exactly shilling. :) )

Re: Anon Users

Niall Connell — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 19:27:22 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]

[quote user="Niall Connell"]Thanks :-)[/quote]

Pleasure!

Just spoken with Rosie Allister, the Chair of the Vetlife (VBF) helpline, and she agreed with the thoughts above - so we're going to integrate the Vetlife helpline number within the design of vetsurgeon.org.

[/quote]

Outstanding!

Re: Anon Users

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 19:08:35 GMT

[quote user="Niall Connell"]Thanks :-)[/quote]

Pleasure!

Re: Anon Users

Niall Connell — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 13:29:22 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]

At this stage, I think I'm heading more in the direction of displaying VBF helpline info more prominently on this site. I assume that everyone in the profession already knows about the helpline, but on the other hand perhaps in crisis situations, it's a question of reminding, and making the info as easily accessible as possible.

[/quote]

That sounds great, Arlo. I'm sure that would be really helpful. Thanks :-)

Re: Anon Users

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 13:24:05 GMT

I've spoken with my brother about this. His background is that he owns and runs a company that provides support and treatment for a vast range of psychological/psychiatric problems and illnesses, including depression (http://www.clinical-partners.co.uk).

His first thought was that some other online communities run their own helpline for situations like these. But if I set this up for vetsurgeon.org, I'd just be replicating the work done by the VBF, and probably not doing it as well as they do!

His other suggestion was that I can tell members of vetsurgeon.org that his company will give them free advice, and arrange treatment if they want it. I'd recommend his company because I have a lot of faith in him, but I don't have any first-hand experience of his company's work. Also, slightly uncomfortable with the apparent conflict of interest. Whilst I don't have any financial interest in him or his company, people might think that. So for that reason, I'll leave it as a passing mention here.

I toyed with the idea of asking whether any of our more prolific members would be interested in VetSurgeon-funded training to know how best to help/support people in crisis in a forum. But that wouldn't provide a dependable response at the moment of crisis, so probably out.

Re: Anon Users

Anthony Todd — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 18:53:45 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]we should stick to what we (and I mean you, really) do well, which is to lend a supportive ear in a completely anonymous environment.[/quote]

Re: Anon Users

Arlo Guthrie — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 18:42:23 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]I assume you can see the now deleted content from this lunchtime[/quote]

Nope. I saw the headline, had to go out, and by the time I got back, it had been deleted. But I think I've got the gist of it from the replies.

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]Is there anything more the forum could do to help some of the posters who are not having a good time of things?[/quote]

Like you, I want to do more to help. But thinking about it, I wonder if actually the great thing about the forum in situations like these is that it is a completely anonymous way of offloading one's problems to a group of people who 'get it'. I can imagine that being cathartic, and enormously helpful to realise you are never alone (by which I mean there are always others who are sailing in the same boat). I can also imagine that there might be people who find it preferable to seek help in a forum like this than talk to a helpline (and that is not meant to take anything away from the work of the VBF, I just mean it's horses for courses) .

I fear that taking it a step further, either by asking for an email address, or even something more subtle, like showing targeted adverts might jeopardise the feeling of total anonymity. In other words, maybe we should stick to what we (and I mean you, really) do well, which is to lend a supportive ear in a completely anonymous environment.

That said, maybe I'm wrong, maybe there is something else I haven't thought of. I will discuss with the VBF next week. And my brother, now I come to think of it, because he's very knowledgeable in this area.

[quote user="Bob Russell"]Something that Arlo and all those that jump in to support should be very proud of in my opinion![/quote]Thank you Bob, and I am!

Re: Anon Users

Bob Russell — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 10:40:39 GMT

A number of people have (hopefully) found this helpful in a time of crisis. Something that Arlo and all those that jump in to support should be very proud of in my opinion!

I agree direct links would be a good idea at the Anon log-in!

It would be fantastic to hear if these threads genuinely do help but the nature of the beast is that once perspective is restored many people do not want to relive the experience!