ShareWell is a place for peer support. We define peer support as sharing of lived experiences with others for mutual connection and support. Seeking peer support on ShareWell means adhering to our safety policies. Violation of the policies below may result in suspension from the platform.

Content Policies

At ShareWell we do not allow the following on our platform:

• Dangerous content
• Harassing content
• Hateful content
• Manipulated media
• Sexually explicit content
• Vulgar language
• Medical diagnosis
• Instructive advice

Use of offensive language or hate speech is not allowed on ShareWell. We remove content promoting violence or hatred against individuals or groups based on any of the following attributes:

• Age
• Caste
• Disability
• Ethnicity
• Gender Identity and Expression
• Nationality
• Race
• Immigration Status
• Religion
• Sex/Gender
• Sexual Orientation
• Victims of a major violent event and their kin
• Veteran Status

If you find content that violates this policy, please report it. Violators will be suspended from the site, and their profile/content will go under review. ShareWell reserves the right to suspend or permanently remove any user from the platform as we see fit.

Any harassment of a ShareWell employee will result in immediate and permanent suspension.

ShareWell content posting etiquette includes:

• NO self-promotion
• NO spam or irrelevant content
• NO sharing of personal contact information: For your safety and privacy, we strongly discourage the public sharing of personal contact information on ShareWell. It is advised not to disclose your full name or contact details. Connecting outside of the ShareWell platform can potentially lead to unsafe communication and dynamics.

In addition, ShareWell is not the correct support tool if you are:

• Harming yourself or another person
• Are in physical danger
• Contemplating suicide or having suicidal thoughts
• Have participated in or witnessed a crime
• In need of medical or psychiatric help

Please see additional safety resources if you are experiencing any of the above.

REPORTING A DISCUSSION OR CHAT POST

ShareWell may, at any time and without notice, remove inappropriate or offensive material from ShareWell’s community forum. If you come across any discussion posts that are disruptive, violate a community ground rule, or speak of self-harm, you may report the post for immediate review by the ShareWell team.

For a Discussion Post:

• Click on the three dots in the right-hand corner of any discussion post.
• Select "report post." A pop-up window will appear, allowing you to provide your reason for reporting.

For a Chat Message:

• Click on the three dots until a flag icon appears.
• Select the flag icon, and a pop-up window will appear where you can fill out your reason for reporting.

What happens when you report a post?

• The post goes under immediate review by ShareWell
• ShareWell will determine whether a violation has taken place and may, at any time and without notice, remove any content.
• Based on the severity, ShareWell will give notice to the member in violation or suspend their account pending further review.
• Reporting stays 100% anonymous for those who report a post.

Reporting a Member

If you feel a ShareWell member is acting against ShareWell community guidelines, is at risk of harming themselves or is exhibiting behavior that is cause for concern or disruptive, you may report them. Once reported, the member will be under review by the ShareWell team. This is done anonymously, the person being reported will never know who has reported them.

How to report

• During a session, click on the participant's photo and choose "report member." A pop-up window will appear where you can provide your reason for reporting.
• On a member's profile, click on the three dots next to their profile photo and select "report member." A pop-up window will appear where you can provide your reason for reporting.

What happens when you report?

• ShareWell will start a review process of the person reported
• ShareWell may reach out to both parties, the reporter and the reported, to obtain more information about the situation.
• Based on the findings of the review, ShareWell will act accordingly depending on the severity of the offense. Whether it’s giving the member a warning, putting them on probation or removing them from the platform.
• Reporting stays 100% anonymous for those who report

We may, at any time and without notice, remove any Content and suspend or terminate your account or access to our Services if you engage in any of the activities that violate the policies herein, including activities outside of your use of the Services.

Session Rules

All members must follow these rules when joining a peer support session on ShareWell. Violation of any rule may result in removal from the session and repeated violations may result in suspension from the platform.

• Lived experience of the topic. Everyone in the session must have personal experience of the session topic. This ensures authentic peer support and makes everyone feel safe sharing.
• Video camera on and stay within camera view. This is a virtual video session and your camera must be on during the session. We ask that you stay within camera view the entire session.
• Share your experience, not your advice. We do not allow members to give direct advice as this is a session amongst peers with no one acting in a professional mental health capacity.

Removal from a Session

You are responsible for your conduct. Hosts may remove anyone from a session if they feel their behavior is disrespectful or disruptive to the group. Once removed, a member is unable to rejoin that specific session, but they can join future sessions.

How to remove

• Hosts can remove a member from a session by clicking their photo and selecting "remove member."

We encourage hosts to give a warning before removal if possible, but ultimately it is up to the hosts' discretion as the group facilitator.

RESTRICTING

To ensure a positive and respectful environment, we have implemented an account restriction feature. This feature enables individuals to limit their interactions with specific members. We recognize that everyone has different triggers, and it's important to note that restricting is not an indication of wrongdoing but rather reflects diverse emotional responses to various personalities or experiences. Our goal is to ensure that ShareWell is as comfortable as possible for each member.

How to Restrict:

• During a session, click on the participant's photo and select "restrict member." The restriction will take effect after the session concludes.
• On a member's profile, click on the three dots next to their profile photo and choose "restrict member."

Effects of Restriction:

• You will be unable to participate in sessions with that member.
• You will not be able to view or respond to their discussion posts.
• If the restricted member is a host, their sessions will be invisible and inaccessible to you.

How to Remove Restriction:

• To unrestrict a member, go to their profile, click on the three dots next to their profile photo, and select "unrestrict member."

We understand that everyone has challenging days. We request you utilize the account restriction feature sparingly and only when it is genuinely necessary.

If You Have Been Restricted:

If another community member has restricted you, we expect you to respect their need for space. Violating their boundaries, personal privacy, or ShareWell's confidentiality agreement, as outlined in our code of conduct, is strictly prohibited. The following actions are considered unacceptable:

• Harassment, bullying, or attempting to contact a restricted peer on or off the ShareWell platform.
• Discussing your restriction or the specific behavior of a member who restricted you in ShareWell sessions, chats, or forums.
• Trying to circumvent the restriction in any form or manner.

Continued engagement in such behaviors, both on and off the ShareWell platform, can result in suspension.

Understanding Restriction:

We acknowledge that being restricted can be an adjustment and may cause hurt feelings. Please remember that restriction does not necessarily indicate wrongdoing on your part, but rather reflects a member's decision to take a break from attending sessions together. Each person has different triggers, and the restriction feature is in place to prevent uncomfortable situations that may arise within the community. Reasons for member restrictions are never disclosed to the restricted. Any attempts to contact ShareWell staff, ShareWell community members, or the support team regarding the restriction reason will not receive a response.

Confidentiality and Community Harmony:

We treat all restrictions as confidential out of respect for our members and expect that all parties involved maintain confidentiality. Any attempt to create animosity within the community or breach confidentiality will be considered a violation of ShareWell's community groundrules. Please note that restrictions are typically temporary, and the feature is standard practice on community platforms like ours. By implementing this feature, we aim to enhance the peer experience and prevent potential discomfort that may arise with certain members.

HOST ETIQUETTE

As hosts, it is essential to uphold the community ground rules and adhere to all community guidelines. If you encounter any issues, please follow this protocol:

1. Report it: If you experience any triggers related to a person, forum, or chat post, immediately report it using the reporting guidelines mentioned above. This is the only acceptable channel for discussing specific members' behavior.
2. Reach out:
   • Support: For technical issues or immediate hosting concerns, contact [email protected]
   • Host Chat: For personal hosting questions, seek assistance in the Host Chat, where you can receive support from the host community and ShareWell staff. Please note that this platform is for non-urgent matters and not suitable for discussing specific members' behavior on the site.
   • Host Support Circle: For guidance, inquiries, or feedback for ShareWell staff, participate in a Host Support Circle. This forum is for non-urgent matters and should not be used to discuss specific members' behavior on the site.

Host Privacy:

For your safety and privacy, we strongly discourage the public sharing of personal contact information on ShareWell. Although professional hosts may include a company website on their profile, it is advisable to refrain from disclosing non-business related contact details. Connecting outside of the ShareWell platform can potentially lead to unsafe communication and dynamics.