Staff Resource

It’s healthy to step away from the site if you feel overwhelmed, anxious, or want to focus on other support. If this is your reason for deactivating, please use the Take A Break Button instead.

If you would like to close your account and remove all its data, you can deactivate it. You can find out more about the deactivation process on our FAQs page: https://sidebyside.mind.org.uk/faqs/

If you change your mind within 21 days, you can return to the site by contacting the core team.

Members must not deactivate their account more than 3 times in 12 months.

Moderators give feedback to members when they break the guidelines.

Members can receive feedback on different topics, under the guidelines: https://sidebyside.mind.org.uk/full-community-guidelines/

Where staff become aware that a member has received 3 pieces of feedback on the same topic within 12 months, we will give a formal warning. This will begin the three-strike process: https://sidebyside.mind.org.uk/suspensions/

Staff may need to make calls to emergency services for community members if they are unsafe. You can find out more about our process in section 5 here: https://sidebyside.mind.org.uk/using-side-by-side-safely/

However, Side by Side is not a crisis service. It's important that members receive the correct support when they are in crisis.

Staff can make 3 escalations for members within 12 months if needed. If members require more escalations, we will help to explore more appropriate options with them.

Please see more about using the site safely here: https://sidebyside.mind.org.uk/using-side-by-side-safely/

Members can use the flag feature to report posts, comments, or DMs to moderators. Each of these flags is reviewed by the moderator on shift.

Moderators need to prioritise safeguarding reports before other issues. If members are intentionally using the flag feature to report things that do not break the guidelines, it can put unnecessary work on the moderator.

Members can flag 3 things that don’t require action in 12 months. If members are intentionally using the flag feature to obstruct moderation, we may be in touch to give formal feedback about misusing the flag feature.

We have a 1 account per person policy.

Where moderators become aware of multiple accounts, we may ask the member to choose one and close the rest. We may need to close accounts for members.

Where we’re aware of members with multiple accounts, previous warnings, decisions, and suspensions will be maintained across all accounts.