Are online support services good?

[Alex9]

Hi!

I recently chatted to a lifeline worker, who recommended this website. They also recommended Mental Health Online and MindSpot Clinic.

I would like to know if anyone has used these two resources and what your thoughts are. Are they worth my time? 

Thanks 🙂

[Snowie]

Hi @Alex9 

Welcome to the Sane forums.

My understanding is that the other two resources are more programs/short courses. Both very much are designed to help people. I have used MindSpot Clinic and did find it helpful for me at the time.

The Sane forums are more about linking in with other people with mental health issues. I find it useful that I can talk to other people who are going through similar issues that I am. It really makes you feel like you are not alone. It very much is a member based forum. You can talk to others in real time and leave messages for other members. There are peer workers working in the background making sure people are following the guidelines and are safe.

I really hope this helps you out. I will say however that you can choose more than 1 option. You might be in a place that all 3 can help you in different stages of your mental health journey.

[MJG017]

Hi @Alex9.  I came to the forum earlier in the year when it was a really rough time.  I had struggled throughout my life to connect to people, and especially trust them to listen to me talk about very personal issues.

So I found that safety and trust here and was able to start really talking about what I felt and the effects it had on me and discovered a lot of people had very similar experiences.  This has really helped me in a number of ways... talking about aspects of myself I had always kept to myself, starting to feel connected to people like me, and gained confidence in being more open with people, and learning how people dealt with similar issues to mine.

I haven't used the other two services so I can't speak on them.  I have tried psychologists as well this year and I've felt that talking to people who have experience what I have and are able to relate to a lot of the same things has helped me far more than the psychologists have.  I'm not putting them down at all, it's just my experience so far.

Best of luck Alex, I hope you find the support that works for and helps you.  I definitely think it's always worth your time to try something and see if it works for you or not.  How else will you know.