Frequently asked questions about Side by Side
What is Side by Side?
Side by Side is an online peer support community where you can talk openly about your feelings and your experiences with people who are experiencing the same. It’s a safe space where you can share as much as you feel comfortable with, where you can find out more about other people’s experiences and learn from them.
And you can give back. As a peer supporter, you’ll find huge value by giving back to others and supporting them through their own tough times. Whether you know it or not, just listening and being there for someone else can make a huge difference to their life.
I’m feeling low, but I don’t have a mental health diagnosis. Can I still join?
Yes! Everyone is welcome. There is no right or wrong to how or what you’re feeling or what you want to say. You don’t need skills or qualifications. Just the ability to share and listen with empathy.
Does it cost anything to join?
No, Side by Side is absolutely free.
What are the types of things people talk about?
Our community members come from all walks of life and talk about lots of different things.
They may be feeling experiencing anxiety, they may be having a stressful time at work, they may be grieving or self-harming or struggling with home life. There's no topic too difficult.
Why is it moderated? Does that mean it’s not safe?
Side by Side is anonymous, but deliberately so. People tell us that they feel more able to share what’s going on, and in turn, they give and receive more meaningful support.
Our team of moderators are online to support you from 8am – midnight, 7 days a week.
We’re there to make sure that any community members who need extra support with their mental health get it quickly, as well as signposting you to information and resources that might help. Think of the Mind team as facilitators. We love to get involved and help keep conversations flowing, but we’ll always take a step back to make sure we’re not treading on toes! This is your space after all.
What do I need to join?
To sign up you will need an email and will be asked to create a username.
On sign up you'll be encouraged to create a profile, share your mental health experiences, and start a conversation by giving people a sense of who you are. (But you don’t need to do this if you don’t feel comfortable doing so.)
How do I use it?
Think of it as a Facebook for mental health. You can:
- Join and set up a personalised (anonymous) profile
- Share posts and photos
- Tag your posts to tell people you are looking for support
- Send direct messages to other members
- Report things you’re worried about
- Snooze members if you find you need to take a break from their posts
