Community Guidelines
Creating a safe, supportive environment for everyone
Safety First
🚨 In Crisis Situations
- Emergency: Call 911
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call or text 988
⚠️ Important Reminders
- This is peer support, not professional therapy
- End any conversation that makes you uncomfortable
- Report inappropriate behavior immediately
- Never share personal identifying information
For Everyone Using FriendListen
✅ Do
- Be respectful, kind, and empathetic
- Listen without judgment
- Respect privacy and confidentiality
- Use appropriate language
- Be patient with others
- Report concerning behavior
- Take care of your own mental health
❌ Don't
- Share personal information (address, phone, etc.)
- Use offensive, discriminatory, or harmful language
- Give medical or legal advice
- Try to diagnose mental health conditions
- Share conversations with others
- Continue if you feel unsafe
- Pressure anyone to continue talking
For Those Seeking Support (Talkers)
💬 Getting the Most from Your Conversation
- Be open about what you're comfortable sharing
- Let your listener know if you need space
- Remember that healing takes time
- It's okay to end the conversation anytime
🛡️ Protecting Yourself
- Don't feel obligated to share everything
- Trust your instincts about the conversation
- Remember this isn't professional therapy
- Seek professional help for serious issues
For Peer Listeners
👂 Effective Listening Techniques
- Listen more than you speak
- Ask open-ended questions ("How did that feel?")
- Reflect back what you hear ("It sounds like...")
- Validate their feelings
- Avoid giving unsolicited advice
🔒 Maintaining Boundaries
- Remember your role is peer support, not professional counseling
- Don't try to "fix" the person
- Recognize when someone needs professional help
- Take breaks when you need them
- Don't take on more than you can handle
When to Refer to Professionals
- Talk of self-harm or suicide
- Symptoms of severe mental illness
- Substance abuse issues
- Domestic violence or abuse situations
- Legal or medical questions
- When you feel out of your depth
Privacy & Confidentiality
🔐 What We Protect
- All conversations are private
- Personal information is kept secure
- No conversation logs are shared
- Anonymous reporting system
⚖️ When We May Break Confidentiality
- Immediate danger to self or others
- Child abuse or neglect
- Court orders (rare)
- Violations of community guidelines
Reporting Issues
If you experience or witness inappropriate behavior, please report it immediately:
📋 What to Report
- Harassment or bullying
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Discriminatory language
- Threats or violent language
- Sharing personal information
- Attempts to meet offline
🚨 How to Report
- Use the "Report" button in chat
- End the conversation immediately if unsafe
- Contact site administrators
- Document the incident if possible
Additional Resources
🏥 Mental Health Resources
- SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
- Psychology Today: Find local therapists
- NAMI: Mental health education and support
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
🆘 Specific Crisis Lines
- Suicide Prevention: 988
- Domestic Violence: 1-800-799-7233
- RAINN Sexual Assault: 1-800-656-4673
- Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
Community Agreement
By using FriendListen, you agree to follow these guidelines and help create a safe, supportive environment for everyone in our community.
These guidelines may be updated from time to time. We'll notify users of any significant changes.