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Fancy a cuppa , Connect now 2
SANE Voices Newsletter - Edition #2
Ru-bee

1 day ago

SANE Voices Newsletter - Edition #2

Hello forumites! We're thrilled to release edition #2 of SANE Voices, our SANE forums newsletter. Just like the first, this newsletter was created by forum members for forum members and we’d like to give another huge thank you to all who contributed. Click here to view the newsletter! Edition #3 will be landing in 2026 (where is the time going?) so if you want to be a part of it keep an eye out in the coming months for our expression of interest call out. Once you've read through the newsletter we'd love to hear from you: Which of the visual metaphors for recovery did you resonate with most and why? What is your guess for the close up image activity? Any more thoughts, questions, observations and anything that was included in the newsletter? Share it here!

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SANE wins Gold for Forums redesign at the 2025 Good Design Awards!
rav3n

about 19 hours ago

SANE wins Gold for Forums redesign at the 2025 Good Design Awards!

🎉 Big news, Forumites! 🎉 We’re so proud to share that the SANE Forums has won Gold at the 2025 Good Design Awards for our Forums redesign late last year! 🥇 This award is about so much more than design — it’s about you, our community! Community co-design was at the heart of this project, with insights from 572 lived experience survey responses, 60 in-depth Forum discussions, and 15 user testing interviews helping to shape every step. We listened to what mattered most to you and, together with our design partners at Colosl, brought your ideas to life — creating a space that helps people connect faster, feel supported, and find what they need more easily. This award celebrates not just thoughtful design, but what’s possible when a community comes together to create something truly meaningful. 💖 A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the co-design process or shared feedback along the way. Your voices made this possible — and continue to make this community what it is today. 🤗 Check out our full announcement here: https://www.sane.org/news/sane-wins-gold-in-the-2025-good-design-awards

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Silly Sock Space!
Celebrate Each Other's Wins! 🥳
AuntGlow

12 days ago

Celebrate Each Other's Wins! 🥳

Hello Forum Friends! 💛 So, I have been yappin' away with my fellow peer support workers about how many amazing shifts, changes, and adaptations you have all been making throughout your mental health journeys, and we thought it would be wonderful to create a space where you can Celebrate Each Other's Wins! 🥳 This can look like acknowledging someone's courage when reaching out, a challenge they have overcome, a creative project they have completed, or even a thank you for the ways that they have supported you on the forums. Essentially, if you see someone do something that makes you smile - share it! 🤩 Of course, you're more than welcome to let us know if you don't want to participate, as we understand that some people like to celebrate more privately. As always, this is a choose-your-own-adventure activity. ✨ We are very excited to see you celebrate each other (because you deserve it!). 🥰 @rav3n @Ru-bee @tyme @Jynx @RiverSeal @0ddsidian @NightFury @creative_writer @ArraDreaming @Captain24 @Till23 @Oaktree @Snowie @Cuddlebear @Dimity @ENKELI @Sparky79 @Bunniekins @TAB @Chasingsunsets @AlwaysMyself @lonemushroom @MotherDuck @avant-garde @BlueBay @Shaz51 @Appleblossom @heartathome @Kashmina @REDLINEZ750 @PeppyPatti @RebelliousAngel @Meowmy @StuF

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Recording // Mental Health Recovery Webinar // OCD - Beyond the Stereotypes - Webinar
AuntGlow

20 days ago

Recording // Mental Health Recovery Webinar // OCD - Beyond the Stereotypes - Webinar

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is often misunderstood and reduced to clichés about being ‘neat’ or ‘fussy’. In reality, OCD is a complex mental health condition experienced in many different ways. For some, it’s linked to trauma and can involve intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviours and overwhelming anxiety. In this 60-minute community webinar in recognition of OCD Awareness Week (12–18 October 2025), Anu Dhingra, Manager – Peer Led Programs, SANE Australia, will share his lived experience with OCD, how this can relate to trauma, and the stereotypes attached to OCD. This webinar is a safe and welcoming space where you will have the opportunity to hear valuable insights about: Common misconceptions about OCD. The connection between OCD, anxiety and experiences of trauma. Realistic support and strategies for people who have or support someone with OCD. About Anu Anu Dhingra is the Manager of Peer Led Programs. Anu is a Lived Experience Leader and has been working in the Mental Health not-for-profit sector for over 8 years. At SANE, he currently oversees the Lived Experience and Diversity & Inclusion portfolios. His own lived experience of mental ill-health, OCD, Childhood trauma, Suicidality and recovery has led him to develop a passion for improving mental health service outcomes, be a voice and advocate for those that cannot speak on their own behalf. Anu is also on the Committee of Management at the Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC), the Anxiety Recovery Centre Victoria (ARCVic); and volunteers his time as a Crisis Support worker at Lifeline. Prior to joining SANE, Anu has worked at Lifeline Australia as a Trainer, Paid Crisis Support Worker and Centralised In-shift Supervisor, part of the National Operations Team supporting Lifeline Centre's across the nation. He was also a member of the Self-Stigma Technical Advisory Group, at the National Mental Health Commission, responsible for informing the development of the National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy. Watch the recording here:

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MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH: Tell Your Story: Stop the Stigma (October 2025)
BPD Awareness Week 1-7 Oct 2025 1:10 Uniting for Change
tyme

27 days ago

BPD Awareness Week 1-7 Oct 2025 1:10 Uniting for Change

Dear Forums Community, Once again, we have arrived at BPD Awareness Week. Each year, 1-7 October marks BPD Awareness Week. The theme for this year is: 2025 - ‘1 in 10: Uniting for Change’ Research shows that 1 in 10 suicides are linked to complex trauma or symptoms consistent with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). This year's theme, 1:10 Uniting for Change, looks at calling all to join together to build a shared understanding of BPD; to break down the stigma that surrounds this mental health condition, and to enact change.I have my own lived experience of BPD, and know from experience that it is a highly stigmatise condition. We CAN do better! Please join us here as we have this discussion around BPD, 1:1 Uniting for Change. What do you know about BPD (borderline personality disorder)? How has it affected you or your loved one?

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The Monkey’s Paw: Make a Wish, I Dare You ~
Jynx

9 days ago

The Monkey’s Paw: Make a Wish, I Dare You ~

🕷🦇👻 Hi Forums Fam! 🕸🎃💀 Spooky Season is setting in, so let’s have some fun with a game... that always has a price! 😲 This game is all about creativity and snark. When you make a wish in this thread, others are encouraged to grant your wish, but with a classic Monkey’s Paw price. For example – M1: I wish for the ability to fly! M2: Granted! You can now fly… when indoors! Okay I wish for riches. M3: Granted! Your parents perish and you gain an inheritance. Me, I wish I had a wallet full of infinitely respawning money. M1: Granted! Your wallet spawns infinite amounts of Monopoly money. I wish... It can be as surreal, bizarre, and unhinged as you can think of – but please remember to keep to the guidelines!! Nothing too graphic or horrific, or that would need a TW. This is supposed to be a little dark, but mostly silly! I’ll go first. Who shall grant my wish? I wish I could transform into any animal!!

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Inquiry into the Thriving Kids initiative and NDIS Changes
Welcome! Introduce yourself here 🙂
Daisydreamer

12 days ago

Welcome! Introduce yourself here 🙂

New here? Welcome to the SANE Forums! We are so happy you found us and have joined our wonderful community. There are lots of people here like you, who can understand what you might be going through and offer valuable peer support. You may see members reaching out to share their stories, asking questions about mental health, looking for others who get it, seeking support and offering support. We hope you find this a supportive and welcoming space to be. We want to get to know you, and introduce you to other members of the SANE Community. To get started, you can simply post here by clicking "reply" to introduce yourself and a fun fact or two about you. Or, you can introduce yourself to the community by starting a new discussion thread! How to do that you ask? Follow the below steps to create your first post. Click back into the Welcome & Getting Started topic area Click the ‘New Discussion’ Button Type in a subject title Enter your post (there are some helpful tips on how you can introduce yourself below) Then click post! Feel free to check out our "how-to" video here: https://youtu.be/y9y-b7q43eQ?si=79nIOvHs5Qxm7w0j You may see our Peer Support Workers welcoming new members in this space, so please reach out if you have any questions, or if we can help you get started 🙂 We are always happy to help! To reach us, @moderator or email us at team@saneforums.org. We look forward to getting to chatting soon

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What has been your highlight today, no matter how big or small? Come share 🫶
Chasingsunsets

about 1 hour ago

What has been your highlight today, no matter how big or small? Come share 🫶

Hi everyone! This is my first ever forum post so do hope it lands where it’s meant to 🤣 Most days, I like to find a highlight 😊. Usually, that means during a walk with my dog, I try to spot something different, something cool or something that brings me some happiness. Whether it’s something big or small, it doesn’t matter. A highlight can be anything! I love taking photos and would really like to share and see what you've come across. Something that made you smile, sparked your interest, or simply caught your eye. For me, it’s all the little things that count on the hard days. To start, I’d like to share these beautiful birds I came across today. They like to appear like branches of a tree or the tree itself. They are called Tawny Frogmouth’s. Has anyone else seen these types of birds? My pics below -(hopefully not too small to see two in the tree on the left pic). What have you seen today? ☀️💛🙏

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Wind-down Wednesdays
rav3n

about 1 month ago

Wind-down Wednesdays

Welcome to Wind-down Wednesdays where we work through a new grounding or soothing tool on every third Wednesday! 🌺 The purpose of this thread is To learn more about various grounding/soothing strategies (can add them into your self-care toolbox) To understand why we do it and how it works in calming us down To create a safe space for members to visit whenever they need to wind down and catch their breath. You can work on the strategy by yourself here, or tag community members to join you (please be mindful of our guidelines - remember that members may not always respond immediately, and let’s not place pressure on others to respond) Promote self-care and self-reliance in regulating your emotions! Got a grounding tool/soothing strategy you’d like to share on this thread? Email us (team@saneforums.org) to let us know and we’ll save you a Wednesday slot! 😊 The first grounding tool we’ll be exploring is the 3-3-3 technique. 3-3-3: Name 3 things you see: scan the space around you. For each item you identify, really focus on the details of it – what colour is it? Is it heavy or light? Big or small? What’s the texture of the object? Name 3 things you hear: what are some sounds near you or far from you, are they soft or loud? Listen closely to identify them. Move 3 parts of your body: it can be light or dramatic movements such as slowly rolling your shoulders, clenching and unclenching your fists, wiggling your fingers and toes, jumping up and down, shaking your wrists, etc. So how does this work? Well, when we’re feeling anxious and overwhelmed, it can sometimes trigger a stress response where our body’s fight-flight-freeze system is activated, which you can learn more about here: The Four 'F' Trauma Responses - SANE Forums. This system is typically activated when our body identifies a physical threat, our body enters a heightened state of arousal to help survive – this can look like increased heart rate, increased muscle tension, decreased appetite, etc. When our anxious thoughts keep activating this heightened state of arousal, it can lead to a very dysregulated nervous system where our bodies keep reacting out of proportion to the threat, making it hard to calm down. Moving our focus from internal things (like anxious thoughts/feelings) to external things (like what we can see/hear), helps us slow things down and calm the stress response. It gives our body a chance to focus on things that it perceived as non-threatening (i.e. identifying a cup or a bird flying around), which gives our body a chance to slowly calm down. Practicing grounding techniques regularly can help regulate the nervous system with time. For more information, feel free to read this article: 3-3-3 Rule for Anxiety: How to Use, Scientific Basis, Other Coping Strategies Now let’s give it a go! Feel free to share the 3 things you saw, heard and the 3 body parts you moved – and any other reflections you’d like to add.

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Hobbies and Projects
ITS GARDEN TIME 🌿
Craft Central
Judi9877

4 days ago

Craft Central

Hello forumites! This is a new craft thread dedicated to all things craft, including knitting, diamond painting, crochet, cross stitch, mosaics, etc! Basically, anything crafty! I have found that crafts are great for mental health as it allows people to be creative and gives them a way to express themselves with different mediums and items, such as wool, paints, etc. It can also help regulate emotions and promote relaxation as well as being a great conversation starter! Tagging @ENKELI @Shaz51 @Ru-bee @rav3n @Glisten @AuntGlow @tyme and all forum members interested in crafts. Feel free to post any craft projects you may like to share and any craft ideas, news, etc, you may have. I look forward to seeing what things are shared here! I love knitting, crochet and cross stitch. I have knitted blankets, adults and kids jumpers and beanies for charity as well as myself and friends and have also done a cable knitted scarf in the past for a family friend which was both challenging yet enjoyable. I often have several knitting projects on the go and will knit when watching TV - something to help me focus and interested in the program, such as a simple blanket which only requires wool, needles and a tape measure with garter stitch being the stitch of choice. If I’m stressed or going through a rough period mentally, I find knitting a beanie or 2 to be a great way of handling this period as I can focus on the pattern and not whatever is causing me issues in my life. Knitting beanies for charity and blankets is a great way of using up leftover wool as I know they will be all diffferent yet unique and be able to keep people warm, especially here in Victoria where I’m based. I’ve been a knitter for over 40 years and love being creative with the colours of wool- acrylic mostly! I love knitting my own jumpers knowing that no one else will have the same jumper as me and being able to make it my own preferred length and style. In terms of crochet, I can only do granny squares so I’ve been making squares and blankets for charity. As for cross stitching, I started it over 20 years ago when I was at uni and have recently got back into the hobby. This clownfish is the start of a bookmark I started last night which I’m stitching to remind myself of when I saw a clownfish at the Cairns aquarium on my recent cruise ship holiday in June to the Great Barrier Reef. I have started doing diamond painting as of February this year thanks to starting it at a PARCS complex as part of my mental health recovery journey which I really enjoyed and found to be calming, meditative and good for dealing with anxiety and stress. I’ve got a cat canvas on the go and have recently completed 3 bookmarks from Kmart last week when I was on a mental health retreat. Below is a coaster I completed a few months ago from a kit from Kmart. Enjoy your crafting! Judi9877

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Sports Central
Judi9877

23 days ago

Sports Central

Hi there all sports lovers! As lots of forum members like and enjoy sports, I’ve started this thread up to talk all things sport. This is a discussion space/thread for all things sports, whether that be discussing sports teams, athletes, players or anything in between. Tagging @Shaz51 @Glisten @Emelia8 @tyme @TAB @Ru-bee @AuntGlow and others who may be interested. Feel free to join in on the discussion! On a personal note, I’m into AFL - Brisbane Lions, NRL - Melbourne Storm, Suncorp Super Netball - West Coast Fever and Sunshine Coast Lightning, cricket- especially BBL with my team being the Hobart Hurricanes, tennis - currently watching the US Open, horse racing and swimming. I’ll also watch the Olympics and Commonwealth Games when they’re on TV. The AFL finals start off on Thursday night with Adelaide playing Collingwood in Adelaide - Go the Crows and the Brisbane Lions playing the Geelong Cats on Friday night at the MCG with a hopeful Lions win. Whoever wins these 2 matches has the following week off with the losers playing the winners of the other teams next week- see below. Fremantle play the Gold Coast Suns in Perth on Saturday and Hawthorn play the GWS Giants again on Saturday. Both are elimination finals with the losers ending their season. I’d love for the Lions to go back to back and win their 2nd premiership but Adelaide and Geelong are looking pretty good with most if their players in good form so it’s anybody’s guess as to what happens. It would be great to have an all Queensland grand final with the Lions and the Suns but again, I’m doubtful of that happening. Again, anything is possible! Enjoy your sports and may the best teams win! Judi9877

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Newbie's Social Club - Come make some friends!
Jynx

6 days ago

Newbie's Social Club - Come make some friends!

Hey Forumites!! This is a space for members new and old, to gather around and help make our newer members feel welcome! We've all been newbies ourselves at some point, and can empathise with how incredibly daunting it can be entering a new space. A lot of folks have trouble even knowing where to start, and (even though we're in the midst of improving it all) we know the forums can be a tricky space to navigate - which can make it very difficult for newbies to be able to find their footing! On top of that, joining any established community means being 'the new kid on the block', and seeing others connecting easily with established relationships can sometimes feel like we aren't welcome, or that we need to 'break in' to the conversation somehow. Well this space aims to alleviate that pressure and help facilitate some new connections! Whether you're brand new here or you've been here since the very beginning, you're welcome to come hang out, meet some new people, reconnect with others, and maybe even make a new friend! We will try to tag new members as they join, so help us make them feel welcome! Here's today's newest forumites: @noodles1 @IndigOverwhelm @Sam63 @Sosad01 @jsbpd @JJll @Andora @riotgrrl @HopeEverlasting @Bellle Feel free to tell us a little about yourself, what brought you to the forums, and what you're looking for here! Tagging in our lovely bunch of Community Guides too! They're seasoned members who volunteer their time and energy towards making the forums a safe and welcoming place for everyone. We wouldn't have the community we do without their efforts and their passion! Feel free to reach out to them, they're always quite happy to help guide and support 😊 @Anastasia @BPDSurvivor @Eve7 @Faith-and-Hope @MDT @Judi9877 @outlander @Shaz51 @Snowie @wellwellwellnez @Zoe7

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How To: Recovery Focused Posting
Jynx

5 months ago

How To: Recovery Focused Posting

Hi there SANE Forums Fam! This how-to guide was designed to help you post to the forums and create safety for yourself and others when talking about those tough topics, such as suicidal ideation and self-harm related thoughts and urges. We hope that this guide will help you to share safely about thoughts of suicide and self-harm, and seek support from others who understand what you are going through. What is recovery focused posting? When we talk about posting in a way that is recovery-oriented or recovery focused, we are encouraging posting in a way that protects both you, and the community. We let the community know what we need, so that it means even on the tough days, we are all here to support each other's safety and well-being. What it is - a way to communicate our needs so we can get the right support all about keeping the community safe a way for us all to keep working on building our resilience and capacity What it isn't - about banning or forbidding discussion of the difficult topics a requirement to 'always be positive' or to pretend we're feeling okay when we're not a restriction on sharing big, dark, or difficult feelings Having a 'recovery focus' is all about highlighting our needs, what's worked for us before, and what may or may not be helpful for us now. It helps reduce confusion and concern, helps reduce anxiety for members reading along, and reduces the risk of us triggering or getting triggered. It can even be empowering for us, in helping us learn to identify our support and recovery needs and practice communicating them to the people around us. Here are some examples of ways we can make our posts recovery focused: For many members and readers here on the SANE Forums, thoughts of suicide and struggles with self-harm are a common part of their mental health or life journey. It's often difficult to talk about these topics, so we want folks to feel like they can be open about what they're going through - without the risk of accidentally encouraging each others rumination or risky behaviours. If you are thinking about suicide, reaching out for support and talking about it is an important step to make sure that you get the right help when you need it most. The forums offers a judgement-free space to express ourselves, and we want to continue to encourage people to feel safe in sharing their story here. Creating a safe community starts with how we use our language. Safe language is important because: It allows others to feel capable and comfortable with providing us with support. It can protect others from common triggers and help someone else who is sitting with thoughts of suicide too. How we talk about suicide in the Forums is important for you, and for your fellow community members. Before you post to the Forums The SANE Forums are a peer support community where most of the support is provided by peers. This makes it a great place to seek support from others who understand what you are going through. It's important to note though, the SANE Forums cannot provide crisis support. We have put together some questions you can ask yourself before posting to work out whether it’s the SANE Forums or a crisis service that might be the best option for you in the moment (adapted from the Chatsafe online resource). Where is the right place/service for me to ensure I get the right help at the right time? If you are thinking about suicide, it’s important to get the right help at the right time. We have a flow chart to help you decide where the right place or service might be for you to seek help. This includes when it is okay to post to the SANE Forums, or when crisis services or emergency support might be the best avenue get the support you need. As a peer-to-peer support service, the SANE Forums can’t provide crisis support This is because: Most of the peer support that is offered across the forums comes from other members just like you. In a crisis, or when you are feeling unsafe, it is important that help comes from people who are trained to provide crisis support. The nature of online forums mean that replies aren’t instant. This means you may not get the help exactly when you need it. We do have Moderators and Peer Support Workers online 24/7 to monitor posts and offer support when needed, but the nature of forums means we can’t always be as responsive as you might need in a crisis. That’s where phone or webchat crisis supports are a good option to get timely support. Language can be ambiguous or interpreted in different ways in online, which is why when we are concerned that someone might be thinking about suicide, we check in via post or email, and refer to crisis support What am I hoping to get out of sharing my story? (aka: my purpose and needs) People talk about experiences of suicide for many reasons. This includes seeking help and support for thoughts of suicide, to raise awareness, or to support another person who might be going through something similar. There are lots of different reasons. Understanding your reason/purpose will help you work out the right avenue to meet your needs. What parts of my story am I comfortable to share and how will I feel when I share? (aka: my privacy and wellbeing) We all have different boundaries around how much of ourselves and our story we feel comfortable to share in a public space. Ensuring you feel safe to share when talking about thoughts of suicide is important, whether that is in an online space, a private space (eg: with a counsellor or mental health professional), or with a trusted person in our lives. How can I write my story in a way that ensures I get the support I need AND is safe for others reading? Think about how you would write your story and whether you are in a space to be able to write in a way that is safe for all to read. We have some tips to help you do this. You can also look at our Community Guidelines. How can I write about thoughts of suicide safely? Let the community know that you are safe: If you are posting about suicide, and are safe, then include that in your post. For example: “I have been coping with thoughts of suicide, but I am safe. I am looking for support from my peers”;“Today has been really difficult, and I don’t know if I can keep doing this, but I am safe tonight and will reach out to a helpline if I feel I need to” or; “I am someone who lives with thoughts of suicide each day, but if they get worse tonight I will go for a walk and speak with a friend. I am safe for now” If you aren’t feeling safe, it’s time to log off the forums and access crisis support. Use safe language: Our words have power, and it’s important that we use trauma safe language when talking about suicide on the forums. By trauma safe language, we mean language that is not graphic, upsetting or triggering for others to read. This includes staying away from graphic detail including means or plans, and making sure you are clear and direct about your current safety. Use trigger warnings: Help other forum members make an informed decision about whether to read on by including a trigger warning. You might add TW: mentions suicide in your title, or include Trigger warning: mentions thoughts of suicide in the first line of your post. Avoid mentioning methods of suicide: Many members of the forums may have experience of suicidal thoughts, feelings or behaviours, and might be triggered, upset or impacted by mentions of methods. Instead, remove the methods of suicide and replace with more general statements such as “I think about action to end my life”, or “I have had thoughts of methods before”. You can still get your story across without listing the method. Let the community know what support you are looking for/what you need: You know what you need best, and letting others know means they can provide more effective support to you when you need it most. For example: “I just need someone to sit with me right now”, “I would like some suggestions” or, “I need some distraction” I often hear Moderators/Peer Workers ask the question “Are you feeling safe for now?”. What does it mean? If we have reason to believe that you might be thinking about suicide, we will check in to see how you are feeling, and whether you are currently thinking about suicide. You may hear us ask if you are safe, but safety can mean many things, so let’s define what we mean in the context of suicide. “Are you safe for now?”: If we are concerned that you might be thinking about suicide, we will ask you if you are safe for now. What we mean is, are you planning to act on thoughts of suicide now? "I am safe for now": If you are safe for now, we will encourage you to reach out and seek peer support through the forums. There are a lot of other people here sitting with thoughts of suicide too who know what it’s like to take steps towards safety. For many people, thoughts of suicide can be ongoing, so we may ask a few times as safety might change from hour to hour, or day to day. That’s why we say safety for now, as we are trying to understand your immediate safety and offer appropriate support. This is especially important in public online spaces where we don’t have the same communication options as we would in real life settings. It can be really helpful to have a safety plan prepared for times when you might have thoughts of suicide, which will help you take steps to seek help or safety. Beyondnow is a great online tool to help you build a safety plan. "I am not able to stay safe": If you tell us you are not able to stay safe, we will ask you to confirm if you are planning to end your life and if you have a plan. This will happen off the forums and via email. If you aren't able to or aren't sure that you can stay safe, this is when it is time to step off the forums and access immediate crisis support. In an emergency, the best place to seek help is to call 000, or go to your local emergency department. As a mental health service, SANE can be a safe space to share if you are feeling unsafe, and we will get emergency help to you. As mandatory reporters, if a forum member tells us or indicates that they are in serious and imminent risk of harm, including planning to end their life now, then we do contact emergency services. This is an important part of ensuring the safety and wellbeing of those who access our services. Mandatory reporting is (as the name suggests) mandatory by law, which ensures that every health service, including SANE, are looking out for the safety and wellbeing of the people we support. When might Moderators, Community Managers or Peer Support Workers step in? The SANE Forums team may step in when a post breaches our safety guidelines, and could impact the safety of the person posting or the wellbeing of those reading. We will remove or edit posts that mention or imply: A person intends to end their life, or doesn’t confirm safety in a way that could be upsetting for those reading. This includes where there are ambiguous mentions or inferences to suicide without confirming safety. Methods of suicide or self harm Graphic descriptions Check out the suggestions earlier in this post to help you stay within the guidelines. We will email members to: Check in to see if a member is safe for now and offer referrals to crisis support Check in with others who may have been upset by something they have read on the forums Let members know if a post is removed or edited Offer suggestions of how to bring posts back in line with the guidelines Let a member know if we are involving emergency services, if doing so doesn't put the person at further risk of harm SANE has a responsibility to keep the Forums safe for everyone. This means that there may be times we will need to make tough decisions to remove a post, email you about the guidelines, or pause an account. If we are concerned about your safety, we want to make sure you have access to crisis services, and we will refer to options such as: National crisis services such as Lifeline (13 11 14) and Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467). You can find a list of crisis services at the top of every page on the SANE Forums. 000 in an emergency SANE’s other support services Other services specific to your situation (eg: 1800Respect, BlueKnot, Mensline…) Summary Here are the key points: It’s important we can talk about topics like suicide and self-harm here on the forums How we talk about suicide is key to creating safety for the person posting, and those reading Using safe language, trigger warnings and letting the community know you are safe, and what you need, can help ensure you get the help you deserve, while also looking out for the community SANE staff may reach out to ask if you are safe and offer referrals to crisis supports. We may also remove posts that breach our safety guidelines around talking about suicide If you are unsafe and at imminent and serious risk of harm, we are required by law to get emergency help to you Thanks for reading along folks 😊

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How to Create a SANE Forums Account
Ru-bee

5 months ago

How to Create a SANE Forums Account

Hello! For those who are interested in the SANE forums, maybe you have spent some time taking a look around and reading threads and are now wondering how to get involved, here’s a quick guide for how to sign up and sign in to the SANE forums. Let’s start with an overview of why you might like to sign up: The SANE forums are a free, anonymous space to access peer to peer support, and is accessible 24/7 on any device They are moderated by mental health professionals for safety and support Open to adults in Australia living with mental health issues, their families, friends, and carers You can check out the video below on how to get started or continue reading for more tips... How to Start an Account Go to the SANE Forums Website: saneforums.org Register for an Account Click “Sign up” to create an account. Fill in the registration form: Create a unique username (do not use your real name or a name that might be otherwise identifiable for privacy) Provide a valid email address and basic personal information Set a secure password Agree to the Terms & Conditions and Community Guidelines Don’t forget to click “Sign up” Confirm Your Email Check your email inbox for a confirmation message (don’t forget to check your junk folder too!) Click the link in the email to activate your account. How to Log In Return to saneforums.org Click “Log In” Enter Your Username and Password Use the details you created during registration. Access the Forums Once logged in, you can: Read and join discussions Post questions or comments Connect with others for support Some extra notes: You can browse and read forum posts without registering, but you must create an account to post or interact. SANE Forums are anonymous and moderated 24/7 to ensure safety and privacy. Only one account per person is allowed, and you must be over 18 and living in Australia. If you have trouble registering or logging in, visit the site’s help section or contact SANE Support Services. Safety Note:SANE Forums are not a crisis service. If you need urgent help, contact Lifeline (13 11 14) or emergency services (000).

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How To
NDIS Music and Art Therapy
RiverSeal

about 2 months ago

NDIS Music and Art Therapy

Hey Forumites, If you are like me and have been hanging out for the result of the NDIS Music and Art Therapy review to find a result. Well it is here and is really positve for those that use the supports. The review found: Art and music therapies will continue to be available to people with disability under the National Disability Insurance Scheme where there is evidence it will provide beneficial outcomes. The Independent Review of Art and Music Therapies led by leading health economist Dr Stephen Duckett AM confirmed that they could be effective and beneficial in the right circumstances. The Duckett Review made 19 recommendations relating to art and music supports for NDIS participants, of which 15 are directed to the National Disability Insurance Agency. The NDIA supports all the recommendations directed to it. Read the full review here: https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/10894-duckett-review-confirms-art-and-music-therapy-continue Phew 😮‍💨 now I can continue to attend my Music Therapy sessions every Saturday! Take care RiverSeal

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✨Intention Setting✨
AuntGlow

about 4 hours ago

✨Intention Setting✨

Hello lovely people, I have been reflecting on some ways we can support you all through our recovery-oriented way of connecting on the forums, and thought that creating a weekly intention setting/reflection conversation could be really helpful. 🥰 Intention-setting can allow us to more mindfully focus our attention onto the things we would like to explore more of (without too much pressure!). And when we do so within community, it can help us to feel more supported as we go about exploring new habits and ideas. Now, this isn't about showing up perfectly or reaching all of our 'goals' overnight, but rather, exploring what is possible, what we enjoy, and how we can feel more safely connected to ourselves. So, what will this look like exactly? 1. Set your intention for the week. For example, I am going to practice allowing myself 5 minutes a day to slow down. 2. Reflect. You can do this throughout the week via your notes app, a journal, or here on the forums. *Notice what feels good, what doesn't, and why. 3. Share the following Sunday. Let us know what you were able to explore and what came up for you/if you have any questions or need some support. Remember - there is no right or wrong! It's so fine if all you did was hold the intention in the back of your mind - change takes time. I would love you all to have fun with this and to explore things from a place of curiosity and compassion. 💛 And... go! @Dreamy @NightFury @Bow @Shaz51 @Captain24 @creative_writer @avant-garde @Oaktree @ENKELI @Dimity @Semly @Appleblossom @MJG017 @Sunnyside226 @Blackcloud @PeppyPatti @Till23 @Jynx @tyme @Ru-bee @rav3n @RiverSeal

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It's Daylight Saving again ☀️
RiverSeal

30 days ago

It's Daylight Saving again ☀️

Hey Forumites, Ready or not it's the start of Daylight Saving for 2025! This can be a time of mix emotions for different Members so I'm curious what your thoughts are about an extra hour of daylight? Good or bad let's start a conversation to get a sence of what the communtiy thinks! What's the history of Daylight Savings?? Well in Australia daylight saving in Australia was first started during World War I in 1916 to conserve energy by giving people more light in the evenings, and this was repeated during World War II. The practice was adopted permanently in the southeastern states during the 1970s, with the primary goal of making better use of daylight and reducing electricity consumption. Check this out: https://www.rahs.org.au/changing-times-50-years-of-daylight-saving/ Here's some global history to satisfy your curiosity........ https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/history.html Can you feel that hour that you lost for sleep last night? I can I am really tired but didn't sleep well due to random thoughts popping up and being a bit restless. Could have done with that extra hour!! What are you going to do with the later sunset this evening? Maybe a walk to make use of the extra daylight, take the doggos to the park or have a bbq in the warmer weather!! We'd love to hear from the states who don't have Daylight Savings too! How does this imapct you? Maybe you have relatives interstate and now you need to work out the time difference every time you call. I forget sometimes too when I call my mum in QLD, oops 😬 Take care everyone 🙂 RiverSeal Tagging in some Members... @AuntGlow @0ddsidian @Ru-bee @Aegis @Jynx @tyme @avant-garde @Blackcloud @Snowie @Captain24 @MissinTooth @ale_inmelb @Zoe7 @Dimity @outlander @Eve7 @TAB @Meowmy @Till23 @Shaz51@oceangirl @The-red-centaur @Patches59 @Clawde @ENKELI @Healandlove @Appleblossom @Bill16 @StuF @StanD @AlwaysMyself @creative_writer @Lowrida29 @LostOne71 @Sevismo @Glisten @PeppyPatti @Oaktree @S1TREP @BecomingOkay @Magpie22 @flower881 @Lapis_Anteater @MatchaToad @Alisse @pansexualpirate @Dreamy @Cuddlebear @Fadednfried223 @MoreHope @SumatimeSadness @Aegis @MotherDuck @ArraDreaming @strawberry2 @Chasingsunsets @Sparky79 @Kashmina @Bunniekins @Jacques

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Hearing voices and psychosis 🗯️
RiverSeal

1 day ago

Hearing voices and psychosis 🗯️

Hey Forums friends, If you are like me and you have experienced hearing voices and maybe even had a psychotic episode, then this is a thread to share your experiences and have discussions! I have shared some of my story and recovery journey here in responding to Members, and I also did the Lived Experience of Hearing Voices Webinar in late 2024, and the Topic Tuesday, Living a Meaningful Life with Schizophrenia, in mid-2022. My mental health experience is hearing voices and experiencing delusions. I have had many psychotic episodes and been on the mental health ward many times, diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2016 after 9 years of misdiagnosis (Borderline Personality Disorder with drug-induced psychosis), been on the DSP, and I am an NDIS participant. In 2017, I started studying at TAFE and I now have 6 qualifications in NDIS, Community Services, Alcohol and Other Drugs, Sexual Violence and Mental Health Peer Work. I work with people who experience complex mental health, AOD, and gender identity issues and use my lived experience to provide peer support. Most of the challenges I have experienced happened over 9 years, from 2007 to 2016, when I started experiencing psychotic episodes and presenting to ED at least 9 times, resulting in 7 hospital mental health ward admissions. However, in late 2001, I was overseas and had a breakdown which led to AOD misuse, unstable housing and extremely heightened emotions for 1 year until I returned to Melbourne. On my return to Melbourne, I misused AOD, and even though I worked several jobs to get by, I was experiencing many other life challenges, anxiety, and depression. As a result of my first psychotic episode in 2007, I lost my long-term girlfriend, career, job, I put on a lot of weight from the antipsychotics, started smoking and lost my fitness, lost my passion for mountain biking, swimming and the gym and had to go bankrupt. In 2009, after my second psychotic episode, I mostly gave up misusing AOD and started working with a. psychiatrist and taking my antipsychotic as prescribed, but was not very engaged in my treatment as I believed the alternate reality that was my voices and delusions. In 2016, I had a turning point in my life and started my recovery journey with what at the time seemed like an insurmountable challenge. I had my diagnosis changed from BPD with drug-induced psychosis to schizophrenia, and I thought that my life was over. I only knew the stigma and discrimination that I had heard, and I thought that if I had schizophrenia, I was not in a good position to put it politely. I went home and looked up schizophrenia online, and I immediately identified with the diagnosis as it sounded like someone had written about my life. I literally thought that if I could sit on a couch and watch TV, that was what I expected I could do for the rest of my life, if I was lucky. Somewhere deep inside me I was not willing to accept this and I engaged with my treating team, researched everything I could find about schizophrenia, watched endless YouTube videos on other people and recovery stories, took my medication as prescribed and made countless mistakes trying to find a way to exist in the loneliness and isolation that was my life living interstate from my family and having been abandoned by people I used to call friends. My recovery journey from that place I was not willing to accept feels like wading through water, not knowing what direction the shore is in, how far it is, or how long it will take to get there. I’m still not there, and I believe I will be in recovery for the rest of my life. Along the way, I have met some people who supported me, believed in me and gave me opportunities. I have also had even some of the same people and others say the cruellest and most insensitive things, holding me back by not accepting that I am creating a new life that is meaningful and purposeful. I learned that I truly need to believe in myself and my abilities, hone in on my values and beliefs, and never accept less than what I deserve. Recovery is so hard and so challenging, and to walk the recovery journey path, you just need to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward, and it will reveal what is uniquely your experience. As you might be able to imagine, over 20 + years, there were many challenging situations, not to mention that I was also trying to process my gender identity, as I identify as a transgender woman. This is really just in a nutshell to keep it from being an essay, so please ask questions and be curious if there is anything that you want to understand more deeply! Let’s create some discussion, and here are some questions (but not limited to) to get us started: What are some of the challenges you are facing in your recovery? What supports, services and resources do you regularly engage with in your recovery? What does recovery look like to you? What have you learned in recovery that may support another Member? We also want to hear about your experiences, so if you feel comfortable, please share your story, your challenges and what you have learned! We all have it within ourselves to live a meaningful and fulfilling life with or without symptoms  RiverSeal ❤️ Just tagging in some Members who may be interested in this thread!! @Egonza @Patchworks @maddison @Millielulu @TAB @A0ri021 @LW1969 @Elisena @Judi9877 @Eve7 @StuF @Meredyth49 @DIDJane @Dk5 @MissRenae08 @MeerkatMonsta @Hope @recovery @Libra @Cleo2 @Jaybee12321 @sol_87 @Paperdaisy @MDT @boofhead73 @Anon1975 @Bunniekins @Hemlock @Krishna @Dimity @Dreamy @Eden @creative_writer

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Eden1919|Senior Contributor|Last message about 2 hours ago
too many thoughts

i feel really weird and like idk what to do because it feels like i am supposed to be on this mission to save the universe and it is really hard to explain and at the same time i am trapped in an inefficient body which i need to get out of but that means getting out of this world ugh it is hard to explain i just dont know what to do i have all these thoughts and ideas and i feel like i need to talk to someone about everything but when i go to they take the thoughts out of my head that i need to communicate idk how to explain it. i am just really confused because everything feels really alive even the trees were calling me again and like everything is a lot but i also kind of feel terrible at the same time idk it is really weird i am not good at explaining how can you sort through all your thoughts when there are too many of them?

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Ruby26|Contributor|Last message about 15 hours ago
Family and stigma

Has anyone had family start to hate them because they have an issue with people having mental illness? I had a family member turn on me six months after my first psychotic episode and the rest of the immediate family eventually followed. I can't share details here without breaking Community Standards (plus I don't want to trigger anyone) but the evidence of wanting to cause me harm is quite solid. It is possible I did something to deserve it, but I can't work out what it could be. It seems to be more about me just having a psychotic disorder and shaming the family by getting mental health treatment.

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ArraDreaming|Senior Contributor|Last message about 2 hours ago
A lot of things on my mind

Just circling a bit

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Jason_and_me|Casual Contributor|Last message about 16 hours ago
Just joined Sane recovery program.

Hi, as the title would suggest, We have just joined the Recovery Program and I am waiting with baited breath to see what is coming. I won't say I am not terrified as I feel like I am dragging a football team into this but I think this might help. I remain focused on being optimistic and hoping that will convince us that this is different from other times. So... Hello everyone.

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ArraDreaming|Senior Contributor|Last message about 17 hours ago
Racism online

How do we manage that when we are reading articles and comments know all the responses are hurtful and racist intent Last week there was a news article or information that lacked context around health services treating First Nations people first, and that wasnt what actually happened but reading about it online really hurt. I should be used to it because its around us all the time but I can’t help but consume it and let it get to me sometimes

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RoutineNicotine|New Contributor|Last message about 4 hours ago
New poster, Schizo for a while

Hi everyone, New poster, (RoutineNicotine since I am almost a chain smoker) but have been posting on occasion on Reddit at /r/schizophrenia. Just looking for something similar except more local to the country I am in since I am Australian and I can't relate much to the American experience of the illness. Lurked here for a few hours and it might be a mixed bag since the carers and family members of those effected have a louder voice then those directly effected, but, I'll take the risk and attempt anyway. Diagnosed with Schizophrenia since 2018, and it's been a mixed bag of sorts, at times managing full time work, but, after a major psychotic episode in 2023 that seen me become a forensic MH patient (don't worry much, found not guilty due to the illness. but, the episode also destroyed my sense of self and done damage to the things that helped me bounce back from other lesser psychotic episodes.) I have been hit for six. struggled for a few months with mixed positive and then the rest of 2024 with negative symptoms. only since Aug. this year, things had started to look up but, now, it seems the positives are starting to come back with hearing voices and screaming that don't actually exist. Then there's the delusions starting with the overarching sense of doom and the idea of "something big is going to happen and it's not good" Already reached out to the community mental health team with the acceptance that I might need a med change and to try and catch it before I get to the stage of requiring involuntary treatment and subsequent CTO. (Plus, I don't want to languish away in the ED waiting to go to the psych ward. Plus, actually go to the psych ward and the things that triggers. Think all the staff and patients work for ASIO and they are all there to psychologically torture you whilst they get coded messages from "The Block" TV show. Or at least this was my last experience of the ward. Don't want a repeat.) What I am currently trying: Journalling (this helps with insight), taking PRN meds (daily now). will visit them tomorrow to catch up with the psychiatrist and get the depot med.

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blue_wren|Contributor|Last message about 15 hours ago
just when i thought things were on the up... or at least stable.. then BAM!!

Hey Sane... Posting here to put things down on 'paper' and to hopefully get a different perspective. I've been stuck in my head lately, and also in a painful body that's causing frustration and irritability, and also a huge rollercoaster of thoughts! I was going along really well with mental health - it's been about 8 weeks of adjusting to new medication and the highs and lows that have come with that - but I was starting to see positives and future possibilities and then what seems like out of nowhere ..BAM..I've had a massive spike 😞 I am even embarrassed to book another appointment with my regular psychologist because last time they saw me (only about 2 weeks ago) things were in a good place. I am booked in to see them again next week, but I feel so much shame that the trajectory hasn't continued and it feels like I've taken 100 steps backwards. I am aware enough to intellectually know that this is OK, but I can't get myself to actually *feel* like this is ok. Has anyone else experienced similar? How do I adjust and crawl through the mess? It feel like it's been such a long time (years and years) of one thing (emotional or physical setback) after the other. I wonder if I will ever not be on such a rollercoaster. It's really tiring!!

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EternalFlower|Senior Contributor|Last message about 4 hours ago
I want to survive this and hear from other survivors like me

Hello 🙂 i've gone through so much trauma in the last year and had no one i could trust to talk about it - i'd find someone who appearead to want to help but then had ulterior motives, i feel like when ur vulnerable you have a sign on your forehead to be taken advantaeg of - it draws in really toxic ppl, as i was also new to the NDIS i met afair few ppl who were quite financially motivated and tried to give me a lot of direct advice - direct advice that sounded to my traumatised brain like love and friendship - when i didn't do what they wanted or challenged them they disappearaed. I realise it was always conditional.I have my good friends who I trust but its less and less - its me and my 3 friends against the world. I feel so scared of the world sometimes, like everything and everyone is a threat. I sufferd a very destablising and scary event 2 years ago and since then rebuilding has been a mess.The way I get by is very small stetps - i leave the house, go for a cofee, have my lovely best friend support worker who I'll call Maisie, and have my really good friends who i have known for a long time. I just feel so let down by this stupid world. I don't know how to not be cynical and hateful, after so much horrible stuff happens.I have found the extetnt of mental health support I got when i reached out was just cheerleading - telling me that i'd be fine and how lucky i was - which was just really not true to the pain i felt inside.Thank you for reading

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Jlol|Senior Contributor|Last message 15 minutes ago
In a bad way right now. Don't know what to do. Again.

Hi all.(Im ok, not going to do anything, etc, etc. Sorry mods I've forgotten all things you've asked to put up here)I've been off the forums for a while due to the negativity I've (personally) experienced, but am at the point where I need to do *something* about my spiraling mental health. I can't go to hospital and can't call support numbers becuase I (personally) don't trust them. Same with seeing a shrink. And before anyone says anything, no I'm not suggesting others shouldn't trust the MH profession, but I don't for my own personal reasons.The fact is I'm losing the fight. I look back on my life and just see so much sadness. I look back and see so many points in my past where I think I should've been better or "if only I tried a little bit harder". But the fact is I was - I was doing the best I could do at the time. And it wasn't enough. I feel so much sadness around the family I wanted to have, but never could. So much sadness about how the people I loved got worn out by me. Of the friends that have given up and gone away.I feel so much sadness seeing how life has just become so narrowed down. From one day being surrounded by commnity and friends, then a few, then none at all. From being with a partner, planning a future and a family, coming home to a house that was lived in, to nothing at all. Everything is just so lonely now.I don't want to say I failed at life because I don't think I ever had an equal starting ground to begin with. But I kinda wish that I wasn't so foolish enough to think that I was ever "normal" and could expect normal things.

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ks|New Contributor|Last message 2 days ago
Depression post major surgery

My partner had major hip surgery 3 months ago and it is a long recovery process. Her recovery is on track, but she is really frustrated and concerned re returning to normal life, she is also experiencing pain in her other hip and worried about the need for future surgery. Any set back or pain (even when we know it is normal for the stage of recovery) is hitting hard, she is in tears on a daily basis and reading your depression checklist she is showing a number of other signs signaling depression. I have suggested getting help/seeing a GP but she doesn't want to and is saying she just needs to toughen up and wait for further physical tests and scans early next year. I don't know what else to do to support and I am becoming stressed & emotional also which is not helping the situation either. Looking for input as I don't know what to do next.

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