# Want to start a mental health thread **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 15, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-start-a-mental-health-thread/532588 "2010-03-15T22:08:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-start-a-mental-health-thread/532588/1 "2010-03-15T22:08:18Z")
Seeing as my questions were not answered in this thread: thehttp://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=555643 I’m starting this one I am seriously considering starting a thread on my experiences of mental illness and the ways of controlling psychotic thoughts/impulses that I use - should I bother? I am really keen on demystifying mental illness - ya know fighting ignorance and all - but there is a chance that someone my post about needing help. Would my thread be closed if that happens? personally I think the best way to deal with that eventuality would be to offer support and perhaps assist in the direction they need to look for medical help (It is amazing how few people are aware of what psychiatric services are available). Would “here is a list of crisis line numbers and a link to page of mental health services in your state” type of information pass? ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-start-a-mental-health-thread/532588/2 "2010-03-15T22:45:18Z")
I’m a bit unclear about what you’re trying to do - discuss mental illness? Talk about how you personally cope with mental illness? Give advice to others on mental illness? I’d be happy to talk about my experiences if you get a thread going and there’s sufficient interest. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-start-a-mental-health-thread/532588/3 "2010-03-15T23:37:33Z")
Let me get with the rest of the staff and make sure we’re singing off the same page before we advise you. Thanks for asking in advance, it’s always best to do this if you have a question. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-start-a-mental-health-thread/532588/4 "2010-03-16T04:49:55Z")
Everything you’ve stated above would be fine. In fact, pointing someone with issues to places where they can get professional medical help would be not only a useful thing to do, it would be a kindness. What we’re trying to guard against here is people giving medical advice or pushing quackery or telling people with real problems to suck it up and get over themselves, all of which we have had here in the past. We also don’t want people taking such a thread and using it for impromptu therapy – it’s not meant to be a couch and you’re not running a therapy session. Thanks again for asking in advance – please note that permission was asked for and granted n advance, that’s always the best way to go if you ever have any questions about the suitability of a topic here. Hope it goes well, and thank you for wanting to share and help others. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-start-a-mental-health-thread/532588/5 "2010-03-16T05:22:31Z")
I am really not seeing how the thread in this OP would be okay, but the thread discussing normal irrational thoughts is not. Could a mod or admin please explain the difference to me? ETA: Nothing at all against you, **madrabbitwoman** - I think your proposed thread is a great idea. I’m just not understanding what seems to be an obvious double standard here. ---
**Author:** ![bat312](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@bat312](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bat312)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-start-a-mental-health-thread/532588/6 "2010-03-16T05:35:29Z")
I am depressed about a sudden death in my family, naturally expected, but would that fit into what you want to address? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-start-a-mental-health-thread/532588/7 "2010-03-16T11:19:18Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I am really not seeing how the thread in this OP would be okay, but the thread discussing normal irrational thoughts is not. Could a mod or admin please explain the difference to me? > > ETA: Nothing at all against you, **madrabbitwoman** - I think your proposed thread is a great idea. I’m just not understanding what seems to be an obvious double standard here. The other thread was not just a general thread about discussing normal irrational thoughts. it was about how the OP was concerned about her _own_ irrational thoughts that had been happening on a regular basis. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-start-a-mental-health-thread/532588/8 "2010-03-16T15:37:08Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The other thread was not just a general thread about discussing normal irrational thoughts. it was about how the OP was concerned about her _own_ irrational thoughts that had been happening on a regular basis. From the OP of this thread - > [@madrabbitwoman](#): > > \ > I am seriously considering starting a thread on my experiences of mental illness and the ways of controlling psychotic thoughts/impulses that I use\ Again, I’m not seeing the difference. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-start-a-mental-health-thread/532588/9 "2010-03-16T16:55:30Z")
I think the difference is an OP (possibly) in crisis, and an OP with a handle on things wanting to share. The OP in crisis needed to be directed to get real help, rather than intellectualizing what could be serious symptoms through a mesage board. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-start-a-mental-health-thread/532588/10 "2010-03-16T18:07:23Z")
I see your point, even though I’ll never agree that was what was happening in the other thread. I think I’m going to have to chalk this one up to Doperland. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-start-a-mental-health-thread/532588/11 "2010-03-16T18:43:03Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > I think the difference is an OP (possibly) in crisis, and an OP with a handle on things wanting to share. The OP in crisis needed to be directed to get real help, rather than intellectualizing what could be serious symptoms through a mesage board. I don’t really see how I came across as being in ‘crisis’, but I guess it’s all up to interpretation.