Special Projects - We Need Your Feedback!

@Heather225

One thing I would really like to see around here is more trainings, not as in the guides but as in trainings by other listeners. Currently for a listener to share listening techniques with other listeners they have to be a mentor or a chat support. The unfortunate thing about this is the simple fact that many talented listeners do not have time to get involved in these roles.

For Example:

I have a lot of experience with trauma, and I have a lot of techniques that I have learned through trainings I had to go through for adoption. I also know several ways to calm people down, simple exercises, that I could teach others. But since I do not have time, due to school and other activites, to become a mentor or a chat support.

So if there was a way we could impliment ways for listeners to share their little tidbits of knowledge I feel like our community here at 7 Cups could really benefit. Everyone has their certain talents little tidbits of information they could share, which could greatly contribute to our overal listening quality.

I am interested in creating more systems for listeners to learn from eachother in specific and structured ways. I have noticed, for example, issues with listeners not having adequate awareness about trans and nonbinary identities and while yes not everyone takes chats on LGBTQ+ topics, there are many LGBTQ+ people and their loved ones who need to talk about unrelated things and still need to have their identities respected. I'd be interested in creating trainings or systems for training or those kinds of things for this and other topics as well as thinking more broadly about systems for training.

(I have random cognitive deficits due to chronic illness/disability so if anything I've said doesn't make sense please please feel free to ask questions as sometimes I can be confusing and not realize it!)

@Heather225

I have picked up on several skills on offer here already, between us we have a mega project team.

Lucy2 <3

@Heather225 Some sort of a gathering about resilience. How we need to stand in our own feet and get up and do something. This is something that alarms me, many people dont really know resilience and i am one of them. Maybe this could be implemented. Learning how to be nice to others and REFLECTION as well. Teaching us ways to rre

ax. As well as safety, many sexual usernames and sexual chats.

@Heather225

Hi Heather,

Id like to organise additional support within forums such as Schizophrenia and others, for members who have little support and contact with others. I see it as a weekly forum group held by myself and any members who wish to join in and contribute. Life experiences and struggles will be discussed and Im hoping that friendships will be formed which will lead to further support for these members. I would encourage members to the lead for each session. Ultimately, Id like to have a ‘Therapist drop-in sessions too. I could co-ordinate and set this up within several forums with similar needs.

Lucy2 <3

@Heather225 you could make surveys for both member and listeners (not obligated) and when they finish it, they level up or earn some mini rewards. I believe free surveys that give awards are very interesting to some people.

Hey

I'm a listener but I couldn't access the account, probably just a minor glitch at the moment.

I just wanted to say that it's too easy to become a listener. They give the answers on the test. I think the test should be harder, and it should include a mock chat. Each and every listener should be as qualified as a verified listener.

I think the reason why it's so easy is because u guys need more listeners and there may not be enough people to conduct host chats. You could make the verification really prestigious, as if you were being certified with first aid; mental health is a serious matter. Then people might he more motivated to take this seriously.

In addition I think to become a certified listener, listeners will be trained to speak to people in crisis, we can make this place even bigger than just emotional support. I know for a fact that people at crisis call centre's are volunteers also also I could just as easily apply and train as anyone else.

Though I really love how you are all cozy, you should remain so even if you make the site a bit more earnest.

@Heather225 thats a really great idea. I think there should be some leaders that are below 18..that really sucks to not be able to do something coz u arent 18

@Heather225

SPECIAL PROJECTS I'D LIKE TO SEE #2: WE ASK 7CUPS TO UPGRADE NONI WITH A "TASKING BUDDY" FEATURE

WHY: Many Members, if not all, need help with their motivation to overcome their challenges.

HOW: One way to motivate people is using a "Buddy System" where people agree in a chat room to go away and start doing a task for a certain amount of time, and then they come back later and explain how they did.

NONI could act as the buddy and no chat room is needed
(Another separate possibility is that NONI could act as a tasking chat room moderator.)

NONI could be upgraded with a simple dialog routine that asks a person
as simulated here:

NONI: Do you want to start "tasking"?

You: (click button yes)

NONI: For how long?

You: (click button for 15 minutes)

NONI: ok great, go!

Then after the agreed time, NONI could ask how they did.

Then NONI could congratulate the person if appropriate.

Or if the person said they had problems, then NONI could ask how they might do better next time.

I got the idea for this from HEALTHFULCHAT.ORG https://www.healthfulchat.org/support/motivation-chat-room.html

Here is what the Healthfulchat.org Motivation Chat Room says to explain how it works there:

"Here we try to get things done by tasking. Tasking is trying to complete chores/tasks by holding ourselves accountable to other chatters. We operate on the principle that it's easier to get tasks completed with a tasking buddy. All the chatters in this room will be your tasking buddies, supporting you on your way to complete that never-ending To-Do-List"

The problem with the Healthfulchat.org chat room is it is often empty because the participants are away tasking or it is off hours and people are away. Another problem is people chat too much when they are not tasking and that wastes time.

But you don't really need a Chat Room with real people to do TASKING if you have an upgraded NONI.

Conclusion: NONI could easily be upgraded to add a TASKING feature that would help people get away from their PC or phone and get things done in short TASKING sprints. People could see their results for the day by checking their accumulated NONI messages. This would make 7Cups more competitive with Healthfulchat.org.