ADHD UK Online Group Rules

Our support groups aim to be kind, inclusive, informative and responsible places. To aid that we have some rules in place. We ask that you read them and abide by them. Any questions please contact us.

General Rules

1. This is a kind place – kind for everyone but particularly kind for those with ADHD.

That means everyone being warm and nice especially if people lose focus, lose their question, or get caught up in their emotions.

2. Raise your virtual hand to ask a question or provide a comment.

To provide some beneficial structure we have an order to speaking. To join the queue, raise your virtual hand (in the reactions button of zoom). There is always a need for the someone to break the ice – so if you’ve got a question please consider being that first person!

3. No jumping in. To be kind to those speaking or queuing to speak.

To be kind to people either speaking or waiting to speak we raise our hand to speak and try our best to manage the ADHD trait of jumping in; however, instead we welcome you to;

4. Use the chat freely.  

Add your points to the conversation, add useful links, have side conversations. Zoom chat can be a great lighting rod for attention while keeping people in the room. So please feel free to be free in your chat – within sensible parameters and while respecting rule 1 of being kind.

Privacy

5. No recording

For everyone’s privacy we don’t record our events and we ask that you don’t.

6. Talking outside the room runs under “Chatham House Rules”

To respect the privacy of attendees you can say what was spoken but not who spoke it. The exceptions are your host and any staff of ADHD UK as they are specifically there to provide information.

Virtual Meeting Facilitation

7. Video

It’s great if you can have your video on as it makes the virtual room warmer. But it is also fine to not have our video on if you don’t to.

8. If you can’t speak your question.

If unable to speak simply put your question in the chat and the host will endeavour to ask the question for you. When the chat is busy it can be hard to spot questions. If yours is missed please post the question again.

Safety

9. Suicide and self-harm.

Our groups are open to everyone, and we aim to offer a space to talk about your experiences; however, we are not trained to provide support or facilitate discussion around suicide or self-harm. We also have to be mindful of everyone else in the group and the impact any such discussion could have.

We therefore ask that you not talk about suicide or self-harm.

If you are experiencing these feelings, please seek help. There is a list below of specialist organisations. This can also be found on the ADHD UK “How To Get Urgent Mental Health Care Now” page linked at the bottom of the ADHD UK homepage.

If you are taking steps to to take your own life you are an emergancy and you should call 999.

10. Mentions of Suicide or Self Harm

If a member of the group does mention that they are struggling with feelings around self-harm or suicide, the group will be paused for them and the facilitator to have a private chat. Privacy for that conversation will be created by moving all other attendees to the waiting room.

Disclaimers

11. Any advice given is informal advice.

No formal advice is given nor should be inferred as being given.

12. No Medical Advice

We are not able to provide any medical advice. Nothing given should be considered medical advice and you should always refer to the relevant qualified medical professional.