Terms of Use & Community Guidelines

Our community guidelines ensure SupportGrove remains a safe, supportive, and respectful space for everyone on their healing journey.

Last updated: January 15, 2025

Our Community Values

The foundation of our safe and supportive community

Compassion First

We approach every interaction with empathy, understanding, and kindness. Everyone's journey is valid and deserving of respect.

Safety Always

We prioritize the emotional and psychological safety of all community members. Harmful content and behavior have no place here.

Support Together

We're here to lift each other up, share wisdom, and offer hope. Together, we create a community of healing and growth.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using SupportGrove, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use and Community Guidelines. If you do not agree with any part of these terms, please do not use our platform.

Important: These terms apply to all users, whether you're sharing stories, browsing content, or simply visiting our website. By continuing to use SupportGrove, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to these guidelines.

2. Respectful Communication

SupportGrove is built on a foundation of respect and understanding. We require all community members to:

DO: Practice Compassion
  • • Listen without judgment
  • • Offer support and encouragement
  • • Respect different perspectives and experiences
  • • Use "I" statements when sharing
  • • Ask before offering advice
  • • Celebrate others' progress and victories
DON'T: Harm Others
  • • Judge, criticize, or shame others
  • • Give unsolicited advice
  • • Minimize or dismiss experiences
  • • Use harmful or triggering language
  • • Engage in arguments or debates
  • • Share others' stories without permission

3. Trigger Warnings & Content Labels

To protect our community's emotional wellbeing, users must label potentially triggering content:

Required Trigger Warnings Include:
  • Substance abuse details
  • Self-harm or suicidal thoughts
  • Physical or sexual abuse
  • Eating disorders
  • Domestic violence
  • Graphic medical procedures
  • Death or loss descriptions
  • Panic attacks or severe anxiety
How to Add Warnings: Use tags like "TW: [topic]" or "CW: [content warning]" at the beginning of your post. When in doubt, it's better to include a warning.

4. No Medical Advice Policy

SupportGrove is a peer support platform, not a medical service. We strictly prohibit:

Prohibited:
  • • Diagnosing medical conditions
  • • Recommending specific medications
  • • Advising to stop prescribed treatments
  • • Providing therapy or counseling
  • • Making medical predictions
Encouraged:
  • • Sharing personal experiences
  • • Offering emotional support
  • • Suggesting professional resources
  • • Describing what worked for you
  • • Encouraging professional help

Remember: Always encourage community members to consult with healthcare professionals for medical concerns. Share your experiences, not medical advice.

5. Respecting Anonymity

Anonymity is fundamental to our platform's safety. All users must:

Protect Others' Privacy:
  • Never attempt to identify other users
  • Don't ask for personal information
  • Respect chosen pseudonyms
  • Don't share identifying details from stories
Protect Your Own Privacy:
  • Don't share identifying information
  • Be cautious with specific details
  • Use pseudonyms if desired
  • Report privacy violations immediately

6. Crisis Protocol

If you encounter content indicating someone is in immediate danger:

Immediate Action Required
  1. Encourage the person to call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
  2. If immediate danger, suggest calling 911
  3. Report the post using our crisis reporting feature
  4. Do not attempt to counsel or provide therapy
Supportive Response
  • Express care and concern
  • Remind them they're not alone
  • Share crisis resources
  • Avoid minimizing their feelings
Crisis Resources: 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) | 911 (Emergency) | Text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line)

7. Reporting Violations

Help us maintain a safe community by reporting violations:

Report Content

Use the report button on any post or comment that violates guidelines

Review Process

Trained moderators review all reports within 24 hours

Fair Action

Appropriate action taken based on severity and context

What to Report:
  • Harassment or bullying
  • Hate speech or discrimination
  • Medical advice or misinformation
  • Spam or promotional content
  • Privacy violations
  • Crisis situations
  • Inappropriate content
  • Terms of service violations

8. Content Moderation Process

Our multi-layered moderation system ensures community safety:

1
AI Pre-Screening

Automated detection of potentially harmful content

2
Community Reporting

Users report content that violates guidelines

3
Human Review

Trained moderators review flagged content

4
Appeal Process

Fair appeals process for moderation decisions

9. Consequences for Violations

We take violations seriously but believe in restorative rather than purely punitive approaches:

Violation Level Examples Typical Response Appeals
Minor Missing trigger warning, minor guideline oversight Warning, education, content edit request ✓ Available
Moderate Unsolicited advice, disrespectful comments Content removal, temporary restrictions ✓ Available
Severe Harassment, medical advice, privacy violations Account suspension, content removal ✓ Limited
Critical Hate speech, doxxing, threats Permanent ban, law enforcement referral ✗ Not available

10. Platform Responsibilities & Limitations

SupportGrove Provides:
  • Safe, anonymous platform
  • Content moderation
  • Crisis resource links
  • Community guidelines enforcement
  • Technical support
  • Privacy protection
  • Peer support facilitation
  • Educational resources
Important Limitations: SupportGrove does not provide medical advice, professional therapy, crisis intervention services, or emergency response. We are a peer support platform that complements but does not replace professional care.

11. Updates to Terms & Guidelines

These terms may be updated to reflect community needs and platform evolution:

  • Changes will be posted on this page with updated date
  • Significant changes will be announced within the platform
  • Community feedback is welcomed on proposed changes
  • Continued use constitutes acceptance of updated terms

Questions About These Guidelines?

If you have questions about our Terms of Use or Community Guidelines, please reach out:

Email: community@supportgrove.com

Subject: Community Guidelines Question

Response Time: 48 hours

Available: Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM EST