A Typology of Moderator Practices and Community Guidelines in Online Mental Health Communities to Establish a Framework for Digital Safety: Systematized Review

Background

The rise of online mental health communities has reshaped the ways individuals seek and receive mental health support. Although online mental health communities (OMHCs) offer a valuable space for peer support, including through experience-sharing, they also present challenges, including moderation practices to cultivate supportive interactions and secure member safety. No comprehensive framework of moderation practices has been established. Developing such an understanding is important, as moderators play a central role in facilitating a sense of community and determining whether OMHCs function as safe and supportive spaces.