With the ongoing global pandemic that is affecting individuals’ ability to connect with families or loved ones, the capacity to work, and their comfort to live freely, those who engage on HeyPeers may be expressing their overwhelming stress in ways that may be aggressive, triggering, and may include thoughts about death. We have noticed an uptick of these expressions in the chat rooms and meetings.
We wanted to remind you that as a Peer Supporter on HeyPeers you have the power to implement policies that help you maintain healthy boundaries so that you can continue to provide peer support. Here are some recommendations on how to do so.
If Someone Is In Crisis In Chat Rooms or Video-Based Meetings:
First, please share the following message with them. It is located at the bottom of the HeyPeers Chat Page or click on the HELP button within your HeyPeers Meeting Space.
If you or someone you know has thoughts of death or suicide call (800) 273-TALK (800-273-8255) or 9-1-1 Immediately, you can also text DBSA to 741-741. Or contact a medical professional, clergy member, loved one, friend or hospital emergency room.
Chat Room:
If you feel equipped you may send messages of support. If you do not feel equipped, that is OK. You may remove yourself from the chat room or private messaging. HeyPeers isn’t a drop-in crisis platform; as a peer, it is not your responsibility to talk someone through a crisis.
Video-Based Meetings:
If someone is experiencing a mental health crisis during your support group meeting we encourage you to provide as much support as you are able to. Encourage the group to come around this member and help them connect to their potential.
If someone is still in crisis at the end of a meeting, the Peer Supporter should call our CD to discuss the situation. That phone number is (818) 806-0274. The appropriate HeyPeers team member will call the person's emergency contact if we are concerned.
Aggressive Behavior in Chat Rooms:
In the event a HeyPeers user is being inappropriate and/or harassing you in a 1:1 Chat Room, a Private Group Chat Room and/or a Public Group Chat Room, you are able to report them.
To do so click on their circle avatar image. A popup window will appear. Select from the following options:
- Thoughtful listener
- Made me feel respected
- Helpful suggestion
- Non-judgemental and accepting
- Extremely Helpful
- Malicious/Inappropriate Behavior
By clicking on the "Malicious/ Inappropriate Behavior" option, it will alert the HeyPeers Behavior Team and they will contact the user about violating the HeyPeers expectations for users.
You also have the ability to remove them from a chat room or remove their connection to you so that they can no longer private message you.
Aggressive Behavior in Video-Based Online Support Group Meeting:
In the very RARE event you need to remove an attendee from your group meeting or coaching session, for not upholding the HeyPeers expectations, please first interact with them and address them directly. Here are some guidelines:
- First time - remind the participant about the specific guideline that they need to adhere to.
- Second time - again remind the participant about the specific guideline that they need to adhere to. Also, warn them that if they continue to not be able to respect the guidelines that they will be removed from the meeting.
- Third time - tell the participant that they have continued to violate the meeting guidelines and for that reason, you are removing them from the meeting. Please report their inappropriate behavior by clicking on the (...) next to their name in the Participants panel. Select the "Report Abusive Behavior" option in the dropdown menu. Remove them.
As a reminder here are the HeyPeers expectations for attendees:
- Discussions made during the group must remain confidential, especially as people sometimes open up to (very personal) details.
- Attendees must not be discourteous to others in the group and must not discriminate or be derogatory on the grounds of gender, race, sexuality, disability, religion, etc.
- Attendees must not be disrespectful of the views of others in the group nor to their methods of coping with their struggles (this does not mean that the validity of views and methods cannot be respectfully challenged).
- Attendees must be mindful to allow others to speak during discussions.
- Attendees must not make any false statements (in public or otherwise) about the group nor about people in the group.
- Attendees and visitors attending the group meeting or any other activities organized by the group do so at their own risk.
We hope this information is helpful. We are grateful to all of you for providing peer support services, we know your accessibility is essential for many.
If you have any further questions on how to maintain healthy boundaries, please feel free to get in touch with us.