Provide a brief
description of each community
- What do you think is the intended purpose of the site? Information can be linked here from the specific sites.
One of the main objectives of this website is to
connect people that experience such feelings, and offer a place where people
can share their thoughts. This site includes many different ways in which to
connect with people; such as through chat rooms, forums, and blogs and media
gallery. There is also an option to
start your own community or forum that you can freely host yourself. Please see link below:
The second online community intended purpose, is to provide
expert, ad-free, user-friendly educational materials and resources to help
people improve their emotional well-being; and make more informed health
decisions. Pleaswe see link below:
Depression Tribe has many opportunities for like minded
people to express, connect and get educated through their online community. It draws people in with those who suffer a
mental illness, who are interested or those with the expertise in mental
illness. This website targets depression, but it does have other links to
connect to other mental health disorders. Please see link below:
- How interactive is this site?
This page, when you first view it, is very soothing and
peaceful. I like the contrast with the soft blue colour and it is easy to read
and navigate your way around. There are
many ways for and individual to interact. An information centre provides you
with information on articles, essay’s, mental health news and supplies
emergency contacts
This site is not designed for interaction as it is an
educational site for those to read and understand more about their illness. However,
this website does provide for users to express through testimonials, in how
beneficial and helpful the site has been for them and the people around them.
Please see testimony below.
I feel the depression tribe website has many opportunities
for interaction. In posting your own
thoughts and options, and receiving reply’s from other suffers and professional
therapist.
- How can people contribute?
People can contribute through discussion in forums, chat
room, writing a blog, media gallery or through starting up your own forum that
you can host yourself.
People do not contribute by communication on this site, it
is mainly for educational purposes, but there is the option to add a
testimonial in how beneficial and helpful the site has been.
People on the depression tribe site can contribute through
posting your own blog, where you can express yourself like a diary, communicate
in forums, chat rooms, personal chat rooms and get some expert advice from
professional therapist.
- What do they contribute?
People on this site contribute their feelings, thoughts,
beliefs and advice. Another exciting way to contribute is through media
gallery. People here can add art, music,
short music or even spoken messages.
When contributing with testimonials, these people are
thankful, happy and appreciative that the information given on this site can
help them and others to understand their mental illness and learn to cope with this
throughout their lives.
People contribute by giving advice or suggestions that have
worked for them and would like pass on to others. It is an opportunity to
express your thoughts (weather happy or sad) and voice your feelings and
beliefs. There is an opportunity for
experts to contribute through writing strategies and interventions that may be
beneficial to those who suffer.
Consider material
presented in the online package.
- Make comment on why people choose to contribute to each community.
The reason why people like to contribute to these depression
communities is to voice their concerns and get a real understanding into their
illness. These communities provide opportunities for people to vent, get issues
off their chest but also to share their feelings, and share strategies that
have worked for them. Another key reason is that people feel heard, feel
connected with others who are suffering the same issues.
People like to contribute as a source of venting, getting
issues off their chest or giving advice or suggestions that have worked for
them. It also is an opportunity to get
advice from experts, or for experts to contribute their knowledge through
writing strategies that may be beneficial to those who suffer.
- What is it they are seeking?
Everybody is a unique individual and seek different things
from online communities. I feel what people sought from the second community
was education, reassurance, understanding or an insight into depression. With
the two other communities, people sought out advice, an understanding, and some
guidance. There is opportunity to seek out professional advice, or for
professionals to seek out new knowledge.
Generally I feel people were seeking, what would help them to feel at
ease, that their not along, and that others are out there going through the
same thing and are willing to give advice and help in some kind of way.
- Is information shared one way or reciprocal?
The second community shares loads of information for gaining
knowledge. There is an opportunity for
those seeking advice to contact via email, and wait for a response. Testimonies
provided on this site, and are extremely grateful and speak very highly with
the appropriate advice given. The other two communities share information in
many ways. Information is shared through forums, chat rooms, blogs, expert
replies, people sharing games, galleries even support groups are provided. So suggestions and replies are coming from
all angles.
- How do you think chosen sites address or relate to occupation concepts introduced in tutorial one e.g. occupational justice, occupational disruption, occupational transition, or occupational deprivation. Choose at least 2 concepts to discuss.
The
chosen sites represent depression within mental health, one in particular providing
information within youth suffering depression. These communities relate to the
concept Occupational Disruption.
Christianson
& Townsend, (2010, p.420) state Occupational disruption ‘is a transient or
temporary condition of being restricted from participation in necessary or
meaningful occupations. These can be caused from injury, illness, temporary
relocation or temporary unemployment’. Depression is a common mental illness,
and in many cases disrupts an individual’s life in a minor or server way, but
when under control this disruption can be temporary. Through using these online
communities which provides ongoing advice and support, they can help you to
understand your illness and learn strategies to manage your illness.
Also
these sites relate closely with occupational transition. Christianson &
Townsend, (2010, p.421) describe occupational transition as ‘circumstances
creating a change in the nature or type of occupational engagement which is
pursued by or available to an individual.
Such transitions may be a result of choice, change to mental and
physical status, life transitions, geographical change, geopolitical strife or
other factors’. You never know what life
may bring you, or the situations you may be placed in but a occupation
transition certainly can change the nature of your occupational engagement.
These communities provide support, awareness and education through occupational
transition you may be going through. Weather it is a result from you suffering
depression and finding life a bit tough, or whether you are coming to terms
with the illness and are coping, you may feel that a change would be the
perfect thing for you.
- Considering material presented during the course and comment on the potential ethical issues that may arise in this community e.g. lack of identity and accountability.
There is always potential for ethical issues, no matter how
hard a company, website or online community establish a process. Having live
chat rooms and forums can open up a can of worms, but those running the
community work hard and fast to resolve the issue. Within mental health
communities a lot of unique information can be broadcasted and then
scrutinised, those who use online communities need to remember to report any
unnecessary comments that have been made.
I believe that the good that comes out of these communities, weighs out
the bad and that many individuals are benefiting immensely from the opportunity
of being a part of these depression communities.
- Consider material presented in the online package and comment on the benefits and limitations these communities provide relate to traditional geographical communities.
Christiansen, H. C.,
& Townsend, A.E. (2010). Introduction
to Occupation: The Art and Science of
Living. (2nd ed). Upper Saddler River, NJ: Person.
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