Group Guidelines

Kaleidoscope hosts informal peer support groups, operating with the intention of creating a safe, non-judgemental space for people to come and connect with others who may be going through similar experiences. This is a place to share personal feelings and experiences, triumphs as well as difficulties.

The way our groups work is that we begin with a check-in from each person. This can include things like: your name; what you’re studying or things you like to do; how you heard about Kaleidoscope; what brings you to Kaleidoscope; how you’ve been feeling lately; etc. Please share only what you are comfortable with; no one is obligated to share.

Kaleidoscope is a growing support network and some of us have been longtime attendees, so you may notice that we seem to know each other quite well; however, we are a very welcoming community, so please don’t feel left out — keep coming!

What we ask of you:

Please listen when others are speaking—one person speaks at a time.
We try to give everyone time to share; please keep your check-in brief when the group is large.
After check-in, the floor is open for discussion, so if you have any topics you’d like to discuss, you can bring them up then, or inform a facilitator earlier in the meeting.
If we run out of time before everyone checks in, you’re welcome to stay after group or check in first next time.
If you arrive late, please wait in the waiting room; facilitators will admit you when someone has finished sharing.

Sharing and Support:

Please avoid giving unsolicited advice. If you think your experience could be helpful, ask first: “Can I share something that relates to that?”
“What’s said here stays here.” You’re welcome to take insights with you, but please do not share identifiable details about other attendees.
Please do not feel pressured to exchange contact information with other group members or connect on social media. Respect each person’s boundaries around relationships outside the group.
Please avoid discussing Kaleidoscope with another attendee in public without checking in with them first.

How We Support Privacy While Caring for the Group:

We deeply respect privacy and confidentiality. Facilitators may consult each other outside meetings to ensure we are supporting the group well—always without unnecessary detail.
Talking about suicide is welcome here. You are free to share feelings of suicidality, hopelessness, wanting to disappear, or anything else related to your emotional experience. Many of us have been there, and we believe talking openly reduces shame and isolation.
Consistent with peer-support values and approaches, we do not assess, police, or pathologize suicidal feelings, and we do not call emergency services simply because someone talks about suicide or expresses intense distress.
The only time we may contact emergency services is if someone expresses that they may be in immediate physical danger and then suddenly becomes unreachable or leaves the group without anyone else being aware of their safety. This is an extremely rare last resort and is based on sudden loss of connection—not on suicidal feelings themselves.

Graphic Content

To care for the whole group, please avoid detailed or graphic descriptions of suicide, self-harm, violence, abuse, disordered eating, or substance use. Graphic detail can be overwhelming or triggering for others, even when the intention is simply to share honestly. You’re always welcome to talk about what you’re going through—we just ask that you share in a way that allows everyone to stay grounded and connected in our groups.

Please avoid detailed or graphic descriptions of:

suicide methods or plans
assault or abuse
self-harm
disordered eating
substance use

When Facilitators Check In More Directly

If it sounds like something is impacting your sense of safety or stability, facilitators may check in with you privately—either during group or afterward—to offer connection, grounding, and support that feels right for you.

We may help you explore what support you want, whether through peers, trusted people in your life, community resources, or grounding practices.

About Emergency Services

Talking about suicide, feeling hopeless, or sharing intense emotions is welcome here.
We do not call emergency services in response to suicidal feelings, distress, or crisis language on its own.

Because we run online groups and cannot see what is happening in a person’s physical environment, we hold one small and very rare boundary for situations that appear to involve an immediate, life-threatening medical emergency.

The only time we may contact emergency help is if:

someone says they may be in immediate physical danger and then suddenly becomes unreachable, or
a medical emergency is visibly happening on screen (e.g., collapse, unresponsiveness, or another clear physical danger), and we cannot confirm they have support or are safe.

This is based on sudden loss of connection during a possible medical emergency,

not on someone’s emotional state.

These situations are extremely rare and would always be a last resort.

Our values in these moments:

We prioritize self-determination, autonomy, and choice.
We avoid coercion and police involvement whenever possible.
We are mindful that forced interventions can be traumatic and may increase future suicide risk.
Our goal is always to remain connected, curious, and human—not to control what someone does with their feelings.

If you ever want immediate help, you are always free to contact 911 or 988 yourself—but that decision is yours.

Substance Use

Respect & Anti-Oppression

Please do not attend group while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Please avoid sharing graphic detail about substance use.

If you’d like support around substance use, we can help connect you to peer-based or community programs (AA, NA, SMART Recovery, etc.).

We do not tolerate racist, ableist, homophobic, transphobic, misogynist, or otherwise discriminatory language.
If harmful language is used, facilitators will ask you to stop. If it continues, we will remove you.
Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated.

Group Climate & Participation

If a participant’s behaviour makes it difficult for others to feel safe—such as interrupting, dominating conversation, ignoring group agreements, or causing distress—facilitators may check in with them privately to explore what’s happening and find ways to participate more respectfully.

If the behaviour continues despite support, we may ask the person to take a break from attending groups for a period of time.

This is not punishment; it is part of caring for the whole community.

We know people come to Kaleidoscope during difficult moments. We hold these conversations with compassion, lived experience, and respect.

Roles of Facilitators

Facilitators help hold the space and ensure guidelines are followed.
All facilitators have lived experience of mental health challenges.
Although some attendees and facilitators may have clinical or professional training, we participate in Kaleidoscope as peers, not in professional roles.
We do not give medical advice.
We take a neutral stance toward mental health treatments.
We can help connect you with resources if you want them

Contact

If you have questions or concerns about the guidelines, you are welcome to ask in group or email: info@the-kaleidoscope.com