This is why this forum has a legal agreement in which simply reading, registering or participating you have agreed to this document through continued use of an interactive service. One reason the age of 18 exists, is because you must be classified as an adult under Australian law, which is 18 years of age. Australian law exists surrounding this component as I am in Australia, the owner of the forum, thus Australian law applies to anything of an executive / administrative nature. At the age of 18 you are classified legally as an adult, regardless what other countries law requires. Obviously individuals must comply to their relevant laws, though I must administer to Australian law.

This means as an adult you are responsible for your own actions, decisions and choices. This forum is clearly defined as an online resource to help yourself, not a resource that caters immediate crisis help. In fact we have clearly stated this forum is not a crisis centre nor a supplement or replacement for such. This is clearly outline within the legal policy. If a person is suicidal or in crisis, each country has their relevant crisis and suicide hotlines made specifically available to cater local emergencies.

This forum is of an International basis, which means firstly talking to a person here is not a viable solution for local help. Next thing is that this forum is made up of untrained personnel, which as Kathy eluded above; these very people become personally involved unlike a professional who has been trained not to do such. There is a reason for this, and that is being a trained local professional can help you, someone here online may only make things worse for you and you will likely make others more ill by such issues.

I made this community a forum first for a reason, being that you post your issue and someone will respond when they have the time and control over how and if they respond. This ensures sufferers, carers and the like can manage their interaction and time within the community. People have lives, they have other more important matters to deal with daily than attempting to fix the world.

We all have local doctors, hospitals and crisis lines in which we can contact for immediate help. If you have two adults here who want to go into chat and use it correctly, being that if they want private discussion to use either the private communicator system or IM system, or create a private room and chat within that room only, not in the general room that everyone lands when opening the chat.

Sending private messages does not mean they will be answered immediately, so your only letting yourself down by thinking this forum is a crisis centre, as its not. This forum is for the day to day general discussion, support and help surrounding PTSD, the day to day reassurance that your not alone, and the list goes on. This forum has never been, nor ever will be a crisis centre substitution or the like.

Please do not use any aspect of this forum as such, regardless how you feel personally at any given time, otherwise you will just end up back in moderation again.