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Newsgroups: alt.support,alt.psychology.help,sci.psychology,soc.misc,alt.answers,soc.answers,sci.answers,news.answers
Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!news-out.internetmci.com!newsfeed.internetmci.com!194.72.7.126!news-peer.bt.net!btnet!dispose.news.demon.net!demon!peer.news.zetnet.net!peernews.ftech.net!betanews.compulink.co.uk!news.cix.co.uk!cix.compulink.co.uk!usenet
From: steveha@cix.compulink.co.uk ("Steve Harris")
Subject: Emotional Support on the Internet
Message-ID: <EI869u.ID@cix.compulink.co.uk>
Followup-To: poster
Summary: Where to find personal help on the Internet and related systems
Organization: Net Services http://www.compulink.co.uk/~net-services/
Date: Sat, 18 Oct 1997 02:15:30 GMT
Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU
Lines: 601
Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu alt.support:15079 alt.psychology.help:13977 soc.misc:12011 alt.answers:29685 soc.answers:8747 sci.answers:7252 news.answers:114719
Archive-name: support/emotional/resources-list
Posting-Frequency: bi-monthly
Version: 1.13
Emotional Support on the Internet V1.15
15 September 1997
(C) Steve Harris 1997 mailto:steveha@cix.compulink.co.uk
What this list is
-----------------
This is a list of resources for *emotional* support on the Internet and
interconnected systems. It is intended to help you find and use these
groups. Please do *not* mass mail this list for *any* reason at all.
Groups and resources with a focus on information giving, campaigning
academic study or advocacy are not listed. Some groups are not listed
because I know that they *can* be too rough on people seeking support. On
the other hand, I have not been able to give all these groups a full "road
test".
PLEASE LET ME KNOW of errors, changes etc.
mailto:steveha@cix.compulink.co.uk
Anonymity and Privacy Update
----------------------------
One of the most useful anonymous servers for our purposes is the little
known "Twwells" service. Although this has many restrictions, most of them
don't really get in the way of use for support groups. Mailing list
membership is out, though. For more information, mail help@anon.twwells.com
Keeping sensitive information confidential? Encrypt your e-mail with
"Pretty Good Privacy" (tm). "PGP" is a powerful engine and we supply the
rest of the car! See http://www.compulink.co.uk/~net-services/pgp/
How to use this list
--------------------
Find the subject in the first column. Look under several headings.
Generally, you should mail the address in the second column 2 and (where
listed) "say" the command shown in the body of your message.
A few of these e-mail addresses are prefixed "mailto:". With these, you
are talking direct to a person rather than joining a group.
Where an address is prefixed "news:", you should use your system's normal
command for joining Usenet groups. An alternative route is to send your
post as mail to name-of-group@news.demon.co.uk. Many of these groups are
in the "alt" hierarchy and you may find that your system doesn't carry the
group you want. Try asking your system administrator to add the missing
group.
Note: some browsers will suppress the "mailto:" and "news:" tags
Where an address is prefixed "AOL", "CIS", "CIX", Genie, Prodigy or
"Delphi", the group is restricted to users of the named system and you
should use that system's normal command for joining a "conference", "forum"
etc.
Note that references to "CIX" refer to the UK based system of that name.
Even if you are not in the UK, CIX membership is possible by Telneting to
cix.compulink.co.uk. They charge 29.38 pounds sign up and a monthly minimum
of 7.34 pounds for which you get at least 100 minutes. On line registration
by credit card. Is something similar for the other systems I mention?
Please tell me!
These groups are not suitable for those who wish to argue that the
particular condition does not exist. If you believe that what you have to
say may upset some readers, use a "spoiler". For example, you might prefix
your message:
"SPOILER: Explicit account of rape"
and put lots of blank lines between that and the main text.
These are primarily *support* groups. They *may* be good sources of
information too. Let this slant influence the way you post to a group. If
someone posts "Hey, I've just been diagnosed with X disease, anyone know a
good doctor?", ask how badly it's affecting them and how they feel about
it. Information exchange can be valuable but often the hardest thing to
find is personal emotional support.
Checking the "Rules"
--------------------
Be careful to read any "Welcome" message sent to you when you join a
mailing list or any other source of information about local "rules". Often,
what's on the list is considered confidential and expected to stay on the
list. Some posters to Usenet groups maintain that they are confidential
too. Given the public nature of Usenet it's more gray. Always remember
these are *support* groups and not hunting grounds for those who want to
"save" people. Let them be a "safe" place, safe to post a suicide note
even.
THE LIST
--------
Subject Address
----------------------- -------
Abuse (general) news:alt.abuse.recovery
Abuse (general) MUD: SANCTUARY telnet psicorps.org 3333
Abuse CIS: HSX200 Section 2
Abuse offenders news:alt.abuse.offender.recovery
Abuse, Sexual recovery@wvnvm.wvnet.edu
Abuse, Sexual news:alt.sexual.abuse.recovery
Abuse partners news:alt.support.abuse-partners
Abuse Partners listserv@sjuvm.stjohns.edu
say subscribe abpart-l Your Name
Abuse, alternative news:alt.abuse.transcendence
Abuse, alternative IRC: #aat
Addiction CIS: go CIS:GOODHE
Adoptees adoptees-request@ucsd.edu
say SUB Your e-address ADOPTEES
Adoption news:alt.adoption
Adoption listserv@listserv.law.cornell.edu
say SUBSCRIBE ADOPTION Your Name
Adoption IRC: #adopt 8pm Central Time
Adoption CIX: adoption
Age Gap Relationships CIX: age_gaps ( mail 'bio' first)
AIDS/HIV MAJORDOMO@HIVENT.ORG
say subscribe HIV-AIDS-SPIRITUAL Your Name
AIDS partners news:alt.support.aids.partners
Adoption AOL: Keyword 'adoption'
Adoption Prodigy: Adoption Issues and Parenting
Adoption CIS: Issues Forum, Adoption section
Adoption Delphi: under Heritage
Adoption Fidonet: ADOPTION echo
Adoption (Triad Group) Prodigy: Social Issues DB
Adoption (BirthParents) LISTSERV@INDYCMS.IUPUI.EDU
say SUB BRTHPRNT Your Name
AIDS/HIV CIS: go CIS:HSX100
AIDS/HIV survivors green_acres-request@netcom.com
say Last Name/First Name Your e-address
Alcoholism CIX: alkies (mail 'karl' first)
Alcoholics Anonymous news:alt.recovery.aa
Alcoholics, Family of Listproc@solar.rtd.utk.edu
say SUBSCRIBE Al-Anon Your Name
Allergies news:alt.med.allergy
Alopecia CIX: Alopecia
alopecia news:alt.baldspot
Alopecia areata listserv@np2.mcg.edu say subscribe alopecia
Alzheimer's disease MAJORDOMO@WUBIOS.WUSTL.EDU say subscribe ALZHEIMER
Alzheimer's disease news:alt.support.alzheimers
Alzeimer's Carers (Listen) Telnet: freenet-in-c.cwru.edu go alz
(Talk) xxo4o@cleveland.freenet.edu (send Name/Addr)
Amputees LISTSERV@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU say subscribe AMPUTEE
Amputees news:alt.support.amputee
Anorexia, bulimia news:alt.support.eating-disord
Anxiety and panic news:alt.support.anxiety-panic
Arthritis news:alt.support.arthritis
Asthma news:alt.support.asthma
Attention Deficit news:alt.support.attn-deficit
Attention Deficit CIX: attention_defi
Attention Deficit Delphi: GO CUS 340
Attention Deficit IRC: #adhd Tuesday 10pm ESTT or Thursday 8pm EST
Attention Deficit CIS: GO ADD
Attention Deficit Kids add-parents-request@mv.mv.com
Attention Deficit Adult LISTSERV@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU
say subscribe addult Your Name
Autism LISTSERV@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU say subscribe AUTISM
Autism IRC: #autism (10am and 10pm EST is best)
Bereavement CIX: bereavement (mail 'jwd' for admission)
Bipolar (manic-depress) majordomo@ncar ucar.edu
say subscribe pendulum YourEmailAddress
BiPolar (manic-depress) news:alt.support.depression.manic
BiPolar (manic-depress) Delphi: GO CUS 340
BiPolar (SO's, etc. of) majordomo@ipl.co.uk
say subscribe bpso
Bisexual, Spouses of majordomo@texsys.com
say subscribe spouse-support
(or) say subscribe spouse-support-digest
Blind CIS: go CIS:DISABI
Blind (Families of) LISTSERV@STJOHNS.EDU
say subscribe BLINDFAM Your Name
Bone Marrow Transplants BMT-TALK-REQUEST@AI.MIT.EDU
Brain Injury listserv@sjuvm.stjohns.edu
say subscribe tbi-sprt Your Name
Brain Injury Survivors listserv@sjuvm.stjohns.edu
say subscribe tbi-surv Your Name
Brain Tumours BRAINTMR-Request@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Brain Tumours Anothernet: #BrainTmr
Breast Cancer LISTSERV@MORGAN.UCS.MUN.CA
say subscribe BREAST-CANCER Your Name
Breast Feeding news:alt.support.breastfeeding
Broken Relationships CIX: splitting_up (mail bryan or peewee first)
Borderline Personality news:alt.support.personality
Borderline Personality LISTSERV@SJUVM.stjohns.edu
say SUBSCRIBE BORDERPD Your Name
Bullying at Work CIX: bullying-work
Cancer LISTSERV@WVNVM.WVNET.EDU
say subscribe CANCER-L Your Name
Cancer news:alt.support.cancer
Cancer CIS: go CIS:CANCER
Candida Allergies listserv@psuhmc.hmc.psu.edu
say subscribe YEAST-L Your Name
Cerebral Palsy LISTSERV@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU
say subscribe C-PALSY Your Name
Cerebral Palsy news:alt.support.cerebral-palsy
Cerebral Palsy Parents LISTSERV@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU
say SUBSCRIBE CPPARENT
Compulsive Eating news:alt.support.compulsive-eat
Children Special Needs LISTSERV@NERVM.NERDC.UFL.EDU
say subscribe CSHCN-L Your Name
Children - see Parent resources also.
Child Support Agency UK CIX: child.support or csa
Child Support Agency UK news:uk.gov.agency.csa
Chronic fatigue LISTSERV@LIST.NIH.GOV
say subscribe CFS-L Your Name
Chronic fatigue news:alt.med.cfs
Chronic fatigue CIX: cfs
Chronic fatigue news:alt.support.cfs-cfids
Chronic Fatigue CIS: go CIS:GOODHE
Chronic Fatigue PRODIGY(US): Jump Medical Support - Chronic Fatigue
Chronic Fatigue GENIE: Page 970 Category 18
Chronic Fatigue Fidonet: CFS echo
Chronic fatigue (youth) LISTSERV@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU
say subscribe CFS-Y Your Name
Chronic Fatigue (Dutch) LISTSERV@NIC.SURFNET.NL
say SUB ME-NET Your Name
Cluttering news:alt.recovery.clutter
Cluttering listserv@sjuvm.stjohns.edu
say subscribe decluttr Your Name
Pain/Illness (Chronic) Anothernet: #LifeChallengs
Codependency news:alt.recovery.codependency
Colitis, Crohn's news:alt.support.crohns-colitis
Cross Dressing cd-request@therev.losalamos.nm.us
Cult members, family news:alt.support.ex-cult
Cystic fibrosis LISTSERV@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM
say subscribe CYSTIC-L Your Name
Deaf LISTSERV@SIUCVMB.BITNET
say subscribe DEAF-L Your Name
Deaf CIS: go CIS:DISABI
Deaf Children LISTSERV@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU say subscribe DEAFKIDS
Deaf-Blind DEAFBLND-Request@UKCC.UKY.EDU
Deafness, living with majordomo@acpub.duke.edu
say subscribe beyond-hearing
Depression news:alt.support.depression
Depression walkers-request@world.std.com (Busy!)
Depression LISTSERV@soundprint.brandywine.american.edu
say subscribe DEPRESS
Depression Delphi: Open Delphi (Forums),
UK-American Connection, go Cust 351
Depression (Families&c) mailto:guides@4seasons.com (Manual list)
Depression, Seasonal news:alt.support.depression.seasonal
Developmental Delays news:alt.support.dev-delays
Diabetes LISTSERV@LEHIGH.EDU
say subscribe DIABETIC Your Name
Diabetes CIX: balance
Diabetes CIS: go CIS:DIABETES
Diabetes (insulin dep) LISTSERV@NETCOM.COM
say subscribe TYPE_ONE YourEmailAddress
Diabetes, hypoglycaemia news:misc.health.diabetes
Diabetics, Parents of news:alt.support.diabetes.kids
Diabetic Kids (German) majordomo@rachael.franken.de
say subscribe diabetic-max Your-e-addrss
Dieting news:alt.support.diet
Disability, Women (Gay) majordomo@qiclab.scn.rain.com
say subscribe living Name e-Address
Disabled-Family support LISTSERV@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU say subscribe DIS-SPRT
Disabled, Parents of Listserv@maelstrom.stjohns.edu
say subscribe firstname lastname
Dissociative disorders news:alt.support.dissociation
Dissociative disorders IRC: #dissoc (often quiet)
Dissociative disorders mailto:kohathi@a3bbak.nai.net (human operated list)
Divorce news:alt.support.divorce
Divorce Delphi: Go Custom 56
Divorce hub@xc.org say subscribe xn-divorce
Divorce (Men) free-join@vix.com or http://www.vix.com/Free/
Downs Syndrome listserv@vm1.nodak.edu
say Subscribe down-syn Your Name
Dreams news:alt.dreams
Drugs see Narcotics
Dyslexia, etc news:alt.support.learning-disab
Dyslexia news:alt.support.dyslexia
Endometriosis LISTSERV@CALIGARI.DARTMOUTH.EDU
say sub WITSENDO Your Name
Enuresis LISTSERV@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU
say SUB ENURESIS Your Name
Epilepsy LISTSERV@CALVIN.DGBT.DOC.CA
say subscribe EPILEPSY-LIST Your Name
Epilepsy news:alt.support.epilepsy
Facial Disfigurement LISTSERV@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU
say subscribe MY-FACE Your Name
Families, Dysfunctional alt.recovery.adult-children
Far from average height news:alt.sigma2.height
Fat Loss (Dieting etc.) majordomo@list.stanford.edu
say subscribe fatloss-support
Fat - see also Obesity
Fat-acceptance news:alt.support.big-folks
Fat-acceptance news:soc.support.fat-acceptance
Fibromyalgia LISTSERV@VMD.CSO.UIUC.EDU
say subscribe FIBROM-L Your Name
Fibromyalgia news:alt.med.fibromyalgia
Gay (UK) uk-motss-request@dircon.co.uk
Gay CIS: go CIS:HSX100
Gay Fathers majordomo@vector.casti.com
say subscribe gaydads Your Name Your e-addr
Gay Parents majordomo@vector.casti.com
say subscribe queer-parents Your Name Your e-addr
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual news:soc.support.youth.gay-lesbian-bi
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual LISTSERV@american.edu
say subscribe AUGLBC-L Your Name
(This group is quite local in focus)
Gay,Les,Bi parnts&frnds majordomo@pflag.casti.com say subscribe pflag-talk
Gay, South Asian khush-request@husc3.harvard.edu say subscribe khush
Gender issues CIX: genderline (mail 'mcbrown' for admission)
General psychological news:alt.psychology.help
Gluten Intolerance LISTSERV@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU say subscribe CELIAC
Glaucoma news:alt.support.glaucoma
Grief news:alt.support.grief
Grief (Parents) Majordomo@mailserv.ic.net
say subscribe grief-parents Your-E-Address
Grief (Pet Loss) news:alt.support.grief.pet-loss
Guilt listserv@sjuvm.stjohns.edu
say sub guilt Your Name
Hemophilia news:alt.support.hemophilia
Househusbands news:alt.support.househusbands
Immune system breakdown immune-request@weber.ucsd.edu
Immune system breakdown news:alt.support.cfs-cfids
Incontinence INCONT-L-Request@MAINE.MAINE.EDU
Infertility news:alt.infertility
Internet Addiction listserv@netcom.com
say Subscribe i-a-s-g [Note: Changed]
(partner support) listproc@strath.ac.uk
say subscribe netwidows Your Name
Lesbian, Bi-Sex Women sappho-request@mc.lcs.mit.edu
LesBiGay Catholics DIGNITY-Request@AMERICAN.EDU
Leukemia Listserv@sjuvm.stjohns.edu
say subscribe hem-onc Your Name
Liver Disease PBCPSCGP@aol.com (Manual List)
say SUBSCRIBE PBC/PSC Your Name & Address
Loneliness news:alt.support.loneliness
Loneliness news:soc.support.loneliness
Long Distance R'ships rainbow-request@rmit.edu.au
Manic Depression - see "Bipolar"
Marfan's Syndrome news:alt.support.marfan
M.E. - see Chronic Fatigue
Menopause news:alt.support.menopause
Menopause listserv@psuhmc.hmc.psu.edu
say subscribe menopaus Your Name NB no 'e'
Migraine and headache news:alt.support.headaches.migraine
Mobility (Limited) LISTSERV@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU say subscribe MOBILITY
Mormons, Gay, etc. majordomo@vector.casti.com say subscribe q-saints
Mothers, noncustodial news:alt.support.noncustodial.moms
Multiple Sclerosis LISTSERV@TECHNION.TECHNION.AC.IL
say subscribe MSLIST-L Your Name
Multiple Sclerosis news:alt.support.mult-sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis CIS: go multscler
Muscular Dystrophy news:alt.support.musc-dystrophy
Muscular Dystrophy MD-List-Request@Data.Basix.COM
Subscribe MD-List Your Name
Myeloproliferative d'rs LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AOL.COM
say SUBSCRIBE MPD-NET Your Name
Myeloproliferative d'rs listserv@sjuvm.stjohns.edu
say SUBSCRIBE MPD-SUPPORT-L Your Name
Narcotics Anonymous news:alt.recovery.na
Negative Equity CIX: neg_equity
Obesity news:alt.support.obesity
Obesity - see also "Fat"
Obsessive-Compulsive news:alt.support.ocd
Oklahoma Bombing listproc@phs.k12.ar.us
say subscribe oklahoma Your Name
Osteogenesis Imperfecta news:alt.support.osteogenesis.imperfecta
Other support news:alt.support
CIX: emotional_sprt
CIS go CIS:GOODHE
Delphi: GO CUS 340
Ovarian Cancer (???) listserv@ist01.ferris.edu
say subscribe ovarian-cancer Your Name
Pain odin@gate.net say subscribe PAIN-L
Pain/Illness (Chronic) Anothernet: #LifeChallengs
Pain, Chronic listserv@sjuvm.stjohns.edu
say SUBSCRIBE PAIN-L Your Name
Paranoia Delphi: GO CUS 340
Parent (being one) CIX: l.s.p.
Panic Panic-Request@gnu.ai.mit.edu
Parkinson's Disease listserv@listserv.utoronto.ca
say subscribe PARKINSN Your Name
Personality Disorders Delphi: GO CUS 340
news:alt.support.personality
Polio LISTSERV@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU
say subscribe POLIO Your Name
Polio (post) news:alt.support.post-polio
Prostatitis news:alt.support.prostate.prostatitis
Prostatitis (& Cancer) LISTSERV@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU
say SUB PROSTATE Your Name
Prozac Survivors news:alt.support.survivors.prozac
Psoriasis news:alt.support.skin-diseases.psoriasis
Psoriasis news:alt.support.psoriasis
Rare Diseases LISTSERV@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU say subscribe RARE-DIS
Religion news:alt.recovery.religion
Repetitive Strain LISTSERV@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU say subscribe RSI-EAST
Roommates, Psychotic news:alt.psychotic.roommates
Schizoid personality news:alt.support.personality.schizoid
Schizophrenia listserv@ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu say subscribe Schizoph
Schizophrenia Delphi: GO CUS 340
SAD - see Depression, Seasonal
Self Esteem, Low listserv@netcom.com
say subscribe self-esteem-self-help
Self Injury bus-request@lists.uchicago.edu
say subscribe in *subject* line
Sexual addictions news:alt.recovery.addiction.sexual
Sexual problems (adult) CIS: go CIS:HSXTOP
Simgle Parents Delphi: GO GROUP SINGLE
Sexual Reassingment news:alt.support.sexreassign
Sinusitis news:alt.support.sinusitis
Short people news:alt.support.short
Short people news:alt.support.dwarfism
Shyness news:alt.support.shyness
Skin Diseases news:alt.support.skin-diseases
Shin Diseases news:alt.support.disease.skin (New)
Sleep Apnoea CIX: sleep_apnoea
Sleep problems news:alt.support.sleep-disorder
Social phobias news:alt.support.social-phobia
Spina-bifida news:alt.support.spina-bifida
Spina-bifida parents of listserv@waisman.wisc.edu
say SUBSCRIBE SB-PARENTS Your Name
Step-parent news:alt.support.step-parents
Smoking, Stopping news:alt.support.stop-smoking
Strokes LISTSERV@UKCC.UKY.EDU
say subscribe STROKE-L Your Name
Stuttering V5002E@VM.TEMPLE.EDU
Stuttering news:alt.support.stuttering
Stuttering listproc2@bgu.edu
say subscribe STUT-HLP Your Name
Suicidal mailto:jo@samaritans.org Use Human language
Suicidal (anon route) mailto:samaritans@anon.twwells.com
See also http://www.samaritans.org.uk/
US Mirror site: http://www.mhnet.org/samaritans/
Suicidal CIX: suicidehelp (mail 'mcbrown' for admission)
Suicidal listserv@research.canon.oz.au (now working again)
subscribe suicide-support Your Name
Suicidal IRC: #suicide (often quiet)
Suicide, left behind by listserv@research.canon.oz.au (now working again)
subscribe suicide-survivors Your Name
Tall (see also Marfan) news:alt.support.tall
Tinnitus news:alt.support.tinnitus
Tobacco Addiction listserv@ra.msstate.edu
say subscribe smoke-free Your Name
Tourette's syndrome news:alt.support.tourette
Transgendered news:alt.transgendered
Transgendered news:soc.support.transgendered
Transgendered LISTSERV@BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU
say SUBSCRIBE TRANSGEN your name
Trigeminal Neuralgia TN-REQUEST@WORLD.STD.COM
Twelve Step programs listproc2@bgu.edu
say subscribe ODAAT@bgu.edu Your e-address
Twelve Step LesbiGay ronald@his.com say SUBSCRIBE PLUS-L and use a
subject of PLUS-L
Voices, visions, moods LISTSERV@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU say subscribe MADNESS
Vitiligo news:alt.support.skin-diseases.vitiligo
Wounded Child CIX: wchild (mail 'alib; or 'pjacobs' first)
=============================================================
Checking out the "agenda"
-------------------------
Almost all of these resources are self-help groups. They don't try to sell
you anything. Of course, individual members may have their own agenda and
occasionally you'll see blatant commercial postings - usually from
outsiders.
When an *organisation* offers a resource, you're entitled to expect it to
have an agenda of some sort and to be able to discover what it is. The only
organisation currently listed is The Samaritans. They're a non-profit,
non-religious support service for the suicidal and despairing. Their only
agenda is emotional support. They don't sell anything.
There's a few other people around on the Net offering support services.
With some of them, I haven't yet been able to discover their agenda. With
others, at least part of their agenda is to sell you something. Now,
there's nothing wrong with someone earning a living in this area but when
your audience is potentially vulnerable, it's important that your agenda is
easily visible. Such visibility cannot be conveyed easily in a listing such
as this so that's why such resources are not here. Having said that, I'd be
interested in hearing from *anybody* on this issue.
Finally, what's *my* agenda? Firstly I believe that offering people
emotional support is a "Good Thing". The other half is that I believe that
many more helping organisations are going to get on the Net soon and I'd
like to do some consultancy work for them.
Quiet and Busy Groups
---------------------
Some of these are very busy with dozens of messages a day. If you find that
doesn't suit you, look to see if there's an alternative. It may be a cue
that a *regional* group is needed if only to become manageable.
At the other end, you may find that a group seems to be dead. This can be
natural, especially in a small group. It doesn't mean that the group is no
good so don't let that put you off asking for support. The group may spring
to life and help you and then subside.
Start your own group? Some thoughts
-----------------------------------
First of all, ask yourself why. One good answer is that you can't find what
you need in an existing group. You'll probably need to devote a fair
amount of effort to starting up and publicising. Starting up on your local
system can be an easy step and generally allows you to control entry.
However, if your subject is too narrow and/or your local system too small
you might end up all alone! On the other hand, don't expect a group to be a
constant hive of activity. I know several good groups with only a few dozen
members where it's often quiet for weeks. When a member needs the group -
it springs to life.
If you are ambitious, you'll be thinking in terms of a Usenet group. The
procedure for getting a new group in the "big" hierarchies is well
documented. It can be easier to start up an "alt" group - start talking to
the people on alt.config. Alt groups tend not to be carried by so many
sites and your coverage will be less.
Some very successful groups are based on automated mailing lists. That's
how most of the resources on my list that require you to say "subscribe"
work. Anonymous posting to such groups can be tricky. But see "Anonymity
and Privacy Update" near the top.
Most group are self-help but The Samaritans suicide hotline in the list is
modelled on the traditional telephone service. There you are talking to
trained volunteers. Starting such a service is a major undertaking and I'm
available for consultation :-)
Update policy
-------------
This list was originally prepared February 1995 and has already seem
several revisions. I expect to update and post it twice a month.
Amendments? mailto:steveha@cix.compulink.co.uk. Please use the form that
follows to help you include all the information. Thanks to all those who
helped me with updates
----cut----
New/Revised Emotional Support Resource
Name of Resource:
Type: Usenet/Mailing List/Help by E-Mail/Conference/Forum
Address:
Any restrictions on membership (EG: CIS members only)?
Is this primarily a *support* group for sufferers/friends/families?
E-Mail address of contact name:
----cut----
Where to get this list
----------------------
This issue of the list is being posted to Usenet alt.support,
alt.psychology.help, sci.psychology, soc.misc, alt.answers, soc.answers,
sci.answers and news.answers. Archived at MIT - see headers.
The most up to date version is at:
http://www.compulink.co.uk/~net-services/care/ but here are some other
places as well.
ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/support/emotional/resources-list
or
http://www.lib.ox.ac.uk/internet/news/faq/archive/support.emotional.resources-list.html
If you hate long URLs as much as I do, use
http://www.compulink.co.uk/~net-services/ and follow the links under "Care
in the Virtual Community"
No Web access? Mail to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu and in the body put:
send usenet/news.answers/support/emotional/resources-list
Acknowledgements
----------------
Thanks to Ian Pitchford, John Grohol and Bob Zenhausern. Special thanks to
David Brake http://www.cityscape.co.uk/users/ab41/ for the CIS entries.
Thanks also to the guys at Oxford who put this list up on the Web without
me even having to ask :-)
Changes
-------
7 April 1997
Revoved Developmental Delays list entries
Added Disabled, Parents of
1 May 1997
Cystic Fibrosis updated
15 September 1997
Added alt.support.personality.schizoid
Added alt.support.aids.partners
Added news:alt.support.amputee
Added alt.support.dyslexia
Removed out of date link to Ohio State
Steve Harris - Net Services - Using the Internet to link *people*
http://www.compulink.co.uk/~net-services/