Our group has agreed the following principles as essential to structure and day-to-day operations and meetings. They are all equally valued and the order in which they appear does not reflect any ranking of importance.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Details of a personal nature, including diagnosis, treatment
experiences or conditons management shared in our group, shall be
considered confidential and never be shared/discussed outside the
Forum (unless freely offered during normal feedback and
consultation)
EQUALITY
Our Forum is a non-judgemental environment, welcoming and
respecting all members and guests.
INCLUSION & PARTICIPATION
In our meetings, everyone has a right to be heard in discussion and
to bring new business to the table. Members agree to supportive,
open and non-aggressive interaction.
RESPECT
Our members value group diecussion and therefore agree not to
interrupt, monopolise a topic, or have side conversations while
others are talking.
COURTESY
Our members agree to turn mobile phones off/to silent during
meetings, and to avoid any other disruptive behaviour.
PURPOSE
Humour is highly valued in our Forum but members agree it should
not get in the way of tabled business.
UNDERSTANDING
Our members understand that mental illness can bring
unpredictable influences to the meetings, and are accepting of an
individual's reluctance to participate fully or need to 'step out'
temporarily if they arise.