Update!
All,
Hope you are well! It has been a while since Ive been able to post with any regularity. Fortunately, I have more time - finally - to engage more on things. I wanted to take a minute to share some updates with you.
Startups are tough. Mental health startups are really tough. The thing that separates us is that we are a community of compassionate people dedicated to helping one another out. We are a small city of people aligned on this purpose. Our shared values make our startup considerably more meaningful and purposeful. Ultimately we are and always will be a place where people like you and I can volunteer to help another person by simply listening. That is something special.
One part of running a startup is paying the bills. When we first launched we had a very small team and we were running out of money. We figured out online therapy and that allowed us to keep the lights on. Universities and other organizations came on and that helped too. When we generate more revenue we are able to hire people to further build up our city (better street lights, teachers, firefighters etc.); when we have less revenue we need to let some of those people go in order to best support the city. These times are particularly challenging. More recently, we had to let some people go and this was very difficult for us and has meant less people to help in the city.
Some of you noticed the group room announcement. That is part of the scaling back. Not ideal I know, but we have limited resources at present so we have to be as smart as possible with what we do have. Everyone on the team is working hard to grow revenue so we can scale back up. We are pretty good at this, but things take time to unfold.
Ordinarily we like to give time for discussion and processing before we make a big change, but sometimes we need to act quickly. Ultimately our rooms require an adjustment to help keep them safe as possible. We understand that change can be incredibly hard when youve grown accustomed to certain features or expectations, especially sudden change. It is always your choice if you decide to stay with us and continue utilize the support our community offers. If you do stay, please remember that staff, ambassadors, and volunteer leaders are all human and all deserve to be treated kindly. Just as the rooms, forums, and messaging on 7 Cups should be used with integrity and for emotional support. This is why we do what we do. If you need emotional support and agree to follow our community guidelines we welcome you with open arms. If you would like a chatroom environment free of rules and moderation there are plenty of websites that offer that ability. We will always be here for you if you decide you prefer inclusive, moderated, and safer rooms that are support focused.
If this is where you want to be and you are open to our attempts to increase safety while also surviving the challenges of a startup, then we have each others backs and will steer into problems together solving them one at a time. It isnt always easy but it is always meaningful work and that is what ultimately matters. Thank you for supporting our community team and rallying. We are all in this together.
Onward!!!
[Jill added link]
(Edited by Forum Mentor @Emily619 to fix a typo)
Been here since 2014 and I'm never leaving. ❤️ I can understand all that's happening... Yes tough times do come but just wanted to let you know that this community means everything to me and I'm ready to adjust with whatever has to come, and give my best to keep this community together
@GlenM Just have more stricter rules for listeners. and stricter rules for members. Some listeners don't even reply and hence it can make the member feel that they are not being heard. some listeners are really genuine but get trashed talked by members and vice versa. I mean we are just all people here. thats why they need new rules or trainings for listeners as well
I encountered listeners who dont even affirm what you say. So I guess members must have stricter rules/respect same as listeners.
In the end we are all humans here and make mistakes.
I understand that some people break the rules, have gotten banned which may be one of the problems of this issue.
What's going on? Where are all the chat rooms? May I say you've kinda ruined the best mental health chat site around. I can only hope you go back to how it was.
Hi @GlenM
It's been a long time since we chatted and I have to say I am not at all surprised by your post, apart from the obvious financial concerns, there have been an awful lot of staff changes and not for the better I might add. This is not the 7cups I joined 5years ago Glen, I stay only for the members that need me, I wish you were back!
Lucy2
All - sorry for not being clear - we are absolutely fine financially. Many people have predicted the end of 7 Cups. We work through challenges and get stronger through them. We are not turning the lights off. We had to make some changes to get back on track, but all engines are still running and will continue to run for a long time to come - hopefully for decades!
@GlenM What's going on?
@GlenM
When I mentioned financial concerns, I meant running an organisation like 7cups cost money and that is always a concern, not 'we're short of finances.'
Lucy2
@GlenM
completely fine financially but having a need to scale back and let go of people do sound like conflicting statements. Id have a rethink about the comms here. Not editing the old ones but having a think and coming out with clarity.
With much (tough) love and best wishes,
M
@lilmango
i agree, mango.
It ruins one
@GlenM Thank you so much for all you have done for so many !!! Thanks to your staff also and ll the work they do.
Not many people that I know of start up a site that covers many countries FOR FREE... I think people need to step back and remember this is a Free Site that actually has so much too offer and appreciate all You have done..
I may not agree with everything that goes on here as a Gllobal Mod but I have been a Mod on several sites and they were not as big as this one but they had their good and bad also but they did not offer all the group chatrooms they were lucky to have two and most only had 1....
Thank you for the updates and thanks for all the hard work!!
God Bless you and your family and the people on this site!!
@GlenM
Why were things allowed to get so
@GlenM
You are one of my favorite people for the tremendous work you are doing. I'm proud to be a listener here in 7 Cups of tea. I cannot thank you enough for letting all of us be a part of this beautiful journey of yours, which is all of ours now ❤ True, we are together in this and I would forever love to remain a part of 7 Cups of Tea come what may. This is an amazing platform for people who love to provide support to the needy ones selflessly. This platform connects so many people together all around the globe. People here are so kind-hearted & are always ready to provide support to each other. How can someone leave such a beautiful place? ❤ Together we help, together we grow! We all love you & may God bless you! Cheers ❤
Hshshs
I have highly appreciated the existence of this site, and I continue to support and believe in it, as long as the concept of 'compassionate listening through one-on-one chats' stays. All the other features of the site may change around this core feature, but there is no gratitude enough in me for the existence of the site.
Thank you Glen and all those who spend/have-spent their time here in a kind and selfless spirit. :)
Well if I can't access support anymore I don't see a point in sticking around, but I have nowhere else to go. I tried other sites before this one and it really was the best.
I've had at best, mixed experiences with listeners and although I did face bigots, trolls and the odd unkind person in the rooms it was nothing compared to the support I got from them (in fact, more often or not people jumped to my defence when this occured) I jumped on tonight as I just found out I could be really physically sick and needed some words of encouragement.
Where am I meant to get that from now? There's nowhere to go!
@TheMadQueen420
@SadAverydotcom
Yes? You tagged me in a blank message, friend.
Did you post by mistake or something?
@TheMadQueen420 it wasn
@SadAverydotcom
Ah okay.
If you need us to support this community in any way, we're here. Let's push forward together.
@FoodForTheSoul
Hardly, a great deal of people will leave over this.