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Community Guidelines

Last updated: November 3, 2025

Welcome to the neurobetter Community

neurobetter is a supportive space for neurodivergent adults and those with mental health conditions to connect, share experiences, and find support. Our community is built on respect, understanding, and lived experience.

These Community Guidelines apply to all interactions on the neurobetter platform, including:

  • Posts and comments in our online community forum
  • Reviews and ratings of service providers
  • Direct messages between members
  • Interactions with neurobetter staff and volunteers
  • Any content you submit to the platform

By using neurobetter, you agree to follow these guidelines. Violations may result in content removal, temporary suspension, or permanent banning from the platform.

Our Core Values

Respect and Dignity

We treat everyone with respect, regardless of their neurodivergence, mental health condition, background, identity, or opinions. We recognise that everyone's experience is valid.

Lived Experience

We value and centre the voices of neurodivergent people and those with mental health conditions. Lived experience is a form of expertise.

Safety First

We prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our members. We take safeguarding seriously and act swiftly when members are at risk.

Peer Support, Not Professional Advice

We are a peer support community, not a replacement for professional healthcare. We share experiences and support each other, but we do not diagnose, prescribe, or provide clinical treatment.

Inclusion and Diversity

We welcome people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. Neurodivergence and mental health affect everyone differently, and we embrace this diversity.

Community Rules

1. Be Respectful

Do:

  • Treat others as you would like to be treated
  • Acknowledge that others may have different experiences and perspectives
  • Disagree respectfully if you have a different view
  • Use inclusive language
  • Respect people's pronouns and identities

Don't:

  • Use slurs, insults, or personal attacks
  • Mock, belittle, or dismiss others' experiences
  • Engage in discrimination based on any protected characteristic
  • Deliberately trigger or upset other members
  • Engage in bullying, harassment, or intimidation

2. Keep Everyone Safe

Do:

  • Use content warnings for potentially triggering content
  • Report concerning content or behaviour to moderators
  • Direct people to crisis resources if you're worried about them
  • Respect confidentiality and privacy

Don't:

  • Share detailed methods of self-harm or suicide
  • Post graphic descriptions of trauma without content warnings
  • Encourage harmful behaviours
  • Share personal information about other members without consent
  • Dox anyone (share their private information publicly)

3. Share Responsibly

Do:

  • Share your own experiences and what has helped you
  • Be clear when sharing opinions versus facts
  • Credit sources when sharing information
  • Ask if someone wants advice before giving it

Don't:

  • Give medical, legal, or professional advice
  • Diagnose other members
  • Recommend stopping or changing medication
  • Share misinformation about treatments or conditions
  • Promote unproven "cures" or dangerous treatments

4. Respect Boundaries

Do:

  • Accept when someone doesn't want to engage
  • Keep conversations in appropriate spaces (use DMs for private conversations)
  • Respect when moderators make decisions

Don't:

  • Send unwanted messages or contact requests
  • Continue conversations someone has asked to end
  • Stalk or follow members across the platform
  • Create multiple accounts to evade blocks or bans

5. Keep It Legal and Appropriate

Do:

  • Post content that is legal in the UK
  • Only share content you have the right to share
  • Keep discussions relevant to neurodivergence and mental health

Don't:

  • Share illegal content
  • Infringe copyright or intellectual property
  • Post explicit sexual content
  • Promote illegal activities
  • Spam, advertise, or self-promote without permission
  • Attempt to scam or defraud members

Specific Guidelines

Discussing Self-Harm and Suicide

We know these are important topics and members need to be able to discuss them. However, to keep everyone safe:

  • Always use content warnings before discussing these topics
  • Never share specific methods of self-harm or suicide
  • Focus on feelings and recovery rather than behaviours
  • Include crisis resources when posting about crisis experiences
  • Report immediately if you believe someone is in immediate danger

If you are in crisis: Please contact Samaritans (116 123), Crisis Text Line (text SHOUT to 85258), or call 999 if you are in immediate danger. You can also visit our Get Help Now page.

Discussing Medication and Treatment

  • Share your own experiences with medication and treatment
  • Do not tell others to stop or change their medication
  • Do not recommend specific medications or dosages
  • Do not criticise others for their treatment choices
  • Always encourage people to speak with their healthcare provider

Reviewing Service Providers

When leaving reviews or ratings:

  • Be honest and base reviews on genuine personal experience
  • Be specific about what was helpful or unhelpful
  • Avoid personal attacks on individuals
  • Do not include private or confidential information
  • Do not leave fake reviews (positive or negative)
  • Do not accept incentives for reviews

Private Messages

  • Only message members who have agreed to receive messages
  • Stop messaging if someone asks you to
  • Do not send unsolicited sexual or romantic messages
  • Report inappropriate messages to moderators
  • Remember that moderators can access messages if reported

External Links and Resources

  • Only share links from reputable sources
  • Do not share links to harmful content
  • Do not share referral links or affiliate marketing
  • neurobetter is not responsible for external websites

Content Warnings

Please use content warnings (CW) before discussing potentially triggering topics. Common topics requiring content warnings include:

  • Self-harm and suicide
  • Eating disorders
  • Abuse (physical, emotional, sexual)
  • Trauma and PTSD
  • Violence
  • Substance use
  • Detailed medical procedures

Format: Start your post with [CW: topic] and use spoiler tags if available.

Moderation

How We Moderate

Our community is moderated by a combination of:

  • Trained volunteer moderators
  • neurobetter staff
  • Automated systems for obvious violations
  • Member reports

We aim to moderate fairly and consistently, but moderators are human and may make mistakes. You can appeal moderation decisions (see below).

Consequences of Violations

Depending on the severity and frequency of violations:

  • Warning: A reminder about the guidelines
  • Content Removal: Removal of specific content
  • Temporary Suspension: Temporary loss of posting privileges (typically 24 hours to 30 days)
  • Permanent Ban: Permanent removal from the community

Serious violations (illegal content, threats, harassment, grooming) may result in immediate permanent bans and may be reported to authorities.

Reporting Violations

If you see content that violates these guidelines:

  1. Use the "Report" button on the content
  2. Provide as much detail as possible
  3. Do not engage with the person directly
  4. For urgent safety concerns, email safeguarding@neurobetter.org

All reports are treated confidentially. We will not tell the reported person who made the report.

Appealing Decisions

If you believe a moderation decision was unfair:

  1. Wait 24 hours before appealing (to allow for reflection)
  2. Email appeals@neurobetter.org with:
    • Your username
    • The content or action in question
    • Why you believe the decision was unfair
  3. A senior moderator will review within 7 working days
  4. The appeal decision is final

Safeguarding

neurobetter takes safeguarding seriously. Our community includes vulnerable adults, and we have a duty of care.

If You Are Concerned About Someone

If you believe a member is:

  • In immediate danger of harming themselves or others
  • Being abused or exploited
  • At risk of serious harm

Report immediately:

Our Safeguarding Commitment

  • We train moderators and staff in safeguarding
  • We have clear escalation procedures
  • We work with external agencies when necessary
  • We maintain confidentiality except where safety requires disclosure

Privacy and Data

For full details, see our Privacy Policy. Key points for the community:

  • Your posts may be visible to other members (depending on the space)
  • Moderators can see reported content and messages
  • We may retain content for safeguarding purposes
  • Deleted content may be retained in backups for a period
  • We will never sell your data

Your Rights

As a neurobetter community member, you have the right to:

  • Be treated with respect and dignity
  • Have your experiences and identity respected
  • Report violations without fear of retaliation
  • Appeal moderation decisions
  • Delete your account and data (subject to our Privacy Policy)
  • Block other members
  • Contact neurobetter with concerns

Changes to Guidelines

We may update these guidelines from time to time. Significant changes will be announced in the community and via email. The "Last updated" date at the top shows when these guidelines were last revised.

Contact Us

For questions about these guidelines:

Thank you for being part of our community. Together, we can create a supportive space where neurodivergent people and those with mental health conditions can find understanding, connection, and support.

Get help now if you're in a crisis, in danger, or feel like you need urgent help for your mental health.