Simple rules that make HMS a safe space for everyone. Read them once. They are why this community works.
HearMeSafe is built on a single foundational belief: every human being deserves a safe space to speak their truth without fear of judgement, exposure, or harm. These guidelines exist to protect that space for everyone who enters it.
These guidelines apply equally to all members, moderators, professionals, and staff. No one is exempt. Verified status does not grant immunity from the standards expected of all community members.
When in doubt, ask yourself: "Is what I am about to post/comment/message intended to help, connect, or be honest — or does it have the potential to harm, shame, or expose another person?" If the latter, please do not post it.
There is no graduated response for the most serious violations.
HMS HearMeSafe uses human moderators — not algorithms alone — to review reported content. Every report is read by a real person and assessed against these guidelines.
Moderation decisions consider context. A post describing suicidal ideation in the past tense, as part of a recovery narrative, is treated very differently from a post expressing current suicidal intent. We are not here to police difficult content — we are here to protect people.
Moderators will not contact other members to tell them a specific post was reported or by whom. Reports are completely confidential.
Our moderation team can be reached directly at safety@hearmesafe.com for complex situations.
Verified professionals on HearMeSafe are held to a higher standard. In addition to all member guidelines, professionals must:
Verified status is revoked without notice for breaches of professional standards. Credential re-verification may be required annually.
Discussion of self-harm and suicidal thoughts is not prohibited. Suppressing these conversations causes more harm than allowing them. We do intervene when immediate safety is at risk.
Posts that express current suicidal intent with specific detail, method, or plan are reviewed by our moderation team immediately. We respond by providing crisis resources and, when risk appears imminent, following our escalation protocol.
We follow evidence-based safe messaging guidelines. Posts are not removed solely for discussing self-harm, suicide, or suicide ideation in a past or reflective context — these conversations are often the most valuable the community has.
If you are concerned about another member's safety, use the report button and select "I'm worried about someone's safety." This triggers priority review.
The report button appears on every post, comment, and private message. You do not need to explain yourself at length — selecting the report category is sufficient. All reports are treated as serious and reviewed by a human.
You can also email safety@hearmesafe.com directly for complex situations or if you prefer not to use the in-platform report feature.
Consequences range from content removal to permanent ban, depending on the nature, severity, and frequency of the violation. The standard process for non-zero-tolerance violations is:
Appeals can be submitted to appeals@hearmesafe.com within 14 days of any moderation decision. Appeals are reviewed by a senior moderator not involved in the original decision.
By creating an account on HearMeSafe, you confirm that you have read and agree to these Community Guidelines. These guidelines are incorporated into the Terms of Use by reference.
These guidelines are reviewed and updated regularly. Material changes will be communicated to all members. The current version is always available at this URL. Last updated: January 2025.