Disclaimer and Privacy: Families for Depression Awareness Online Community
Families for Depression Awareness
Online Community Privacy Policy
This page outlines our policies regarding the following:
- Protecting your privacy
- Protecting Families for Depression Awareness
- Removing inappropriate content or posters
The privacy of people with depressive disorders and their families is of primary importance to Families for Depression Awareness. Some people prefer total anonymity. Others are comfortable with discussing a depressive disorder in their family.
Families for Depression Awareness has created this Privacy Policy to explain why we collect particular information and how we will handle such information within our Web site. The following discloses our information gathering and dissemination practices for our online resources, which include both the Families for Depression Awareness Web site located at and the Families for Depression Awareness discussion board(s) at 395 Totten Pond Road, Waltham, MA 02451.
Families for Depression Awareness reserves the right to change this Privacy Policy at any time and without notice simply by posting such changes on our Web site. Any such change will be effective immediately upon posting.
Questions regarding this Privacy Policy should be directed to Families for Depression Awareness by sending an e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please reference this Privacy Policy in your subject line.
General Policies
Visitors
Families for Depression Awareness will not intentionally share your name or any personal information about you or your family without your express permission. As with any Web site on the Internet, we recommend caution in revealing personal information on-line.
Surface Mail
Families for Depression Awareness uses the Internet to provide current information and support. If we send postal mail to you, the return address on our labels says Families for Depression Awareness and shows our logo.
What Information We Collect and How We Use That Information
Our Web site and online discussion boards registration forms require users to give us contact information that may include name, email address, format preference (HTML vs. Text), address, interests, and similar information. We do not request or store sensitive financial information from visitors to our Web site and online discussion boards such as credit card or Social Security numbers.
Internet Protocol Address: We collect an IP address from every visitor to our Web site and online discussion boards. An IP address is a number that is automatically assigned to your computer when you use the Internet. We use IP addresses to help diagnose problems with our server, administer our Web site and online discussion boards, analyze trends in the use of our online resources, track users’ movement on our Web site, gather broad demographic information for aggregate use to improve our Web site, and deliver customized, personalized content on our Web site. IP addresses are not linked to personally identifiable information.
Use of “Cookies”
Our Web site and online discussion boards may use cookies in an effort to enhance your experience while using our Web site. Cookies are pieces of information that a Web site may transfer to a computer that is browsing that Web site, and are used for record-keeping purposes at many Web sites. Use of cookies is intended to make Web surfing easier by performing certain functions such as saving passwords and/or personal preferences regarding use of a particular Web site, or ensuring that a Web site visitor does not see the same advertisement repeatedly on that Web site.
Your Internet browser may be set to accept cookies. However, if you would prefer not to receive cookies, you can alter the configuration of your browser to refuse cookies. If you set your browser to refuse cookies, it is possible that some areas of our Web site and online discussion boards will not function properly when you view them.
Security
All information provided to Families for Depression Awareness through our online resources, including both our Web site and online discussion boards, is transmitted using SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption. SSL is a coding system that lets your Internet browser automatically encrypt, or scramble, data before you send it to us. We also strive to protect account information by storing it on a portion of our Web site that is designed to be accessible only to certain qualified employees of Families for Depression Awareness.
Unfortunately, however, no data transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. While we are committed to protecting your account information, we cannot and do not ensure, guarantee, or warrant, in any way, the security of any information transmitted to our Web site or online discussion boards.
Other Web Sites
Our Web site and online discussion boards contains links to other Web sites. Please note that when you click on one of these links, you are entering another Web site for which Families for Depression Awareness has no responsibility. We encourage you to read the privacy statements on all such sites as their policies may be different than ours.
Contacting Families for Depression Awareness
If you have any questions about this privacy statement, the practices of this site, or your dealings with this site, please contact:
Families for Depression Awareness
395 Totten Pond Road, Suite 404
Waltham, MA 02451
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Families for Depression Awareness Web Site Notices and Disclaimers
Copyright and Trademarks
The entire contents and design of the Families for Depression Awareness World Wide Web site and discussion boards (“Families for Depression Awareness Web site"), including but not limited to all trademarks, logos, trade names, documents, databases, graphic representations, and information, are the property of Families for Depression Awareness or are used by Families for Depression Awareness with permission, and are protected under U.S. and international copyright and trademark laws, whether or not a copyright, trademark, or other notice of proprietary rights appears on the screen displaying the information.
Notwithstanding the above, it is the policy of Families for Depression Awareness to encourage wide dissemination of information about depression and bipolar disorder. Therefore, Families for Depression Awareness grants limited-use permission solely to reprint content that is original to the Families for Depression Awareness Web site and discussion boards, and only content that is original to this Web site, provided that such reprint may only be in print media, is solely for non-commercial, not-for-profit educational purposes, and includes the following acknowledgment: “Reprinted from the Web site of Families for Depression Awareness (familyaware.org)”.
Users may save and use information contained in the Families for Depression Awareness Web site and discussion boards for personal use. No other use of any such information, except for the limited-use permission described above, is permitted (including but not limited to distributing, copying, modifying, publishing or re-transmitting all or any portion of the Families for Depression Awareness Web site or any materials or content on the Families for Depression Awareness Web site) without the prior written permission of Families for Depression Awareness or the appropriate copyright owner. For content written by others, such as user contributions, articles, or material published elsewhere, permission to reprint must be obtained directly from the publisher, author, or copyright holder.
Disclaimer
The information, opinions and recommendations presented within the Families for Depression Awareness Web site and online discussion boards are for general information only and should not be construed as medical advice or diagnosis, nor as advice about treatment of any specific medical condition. Families for Depression Awareness does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, medication, process, method of treatment, service, or organization presented or mentioned on the Families for Depression Awareness Web site or online discussion boards.
NO ONE SHOULD START, STOP, OR CHANGE MEDICATION OR ANY OTHER TREATMENT FOR HIMSELF OR HERSELF, OR FOR ANYONE ELSE BASED ON ANY INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE FAMILIES FOR DEPRESSION AWARENESS WEB SITE, ONLINE DISCUSSION BOARDS, OR ELSEWHERE ON THE INTERNET. INFORMATION PRESENTED ON THIS WEB SITE IS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE, AND DOES NOT REPLACE, THE CONSIDERED JUDGMENT OF A LICENSED MEDICAL PRACTITIONER WHO KNOWS THE PATIENT.
Families for Depression Awareness makes no warranty, representation, or guarantee as to the accuracy or completeness of the information posted on the Families for Depression Awareness Web site or online discussion boards. Families for Depression Awareness assumes no responsibility or liability in connection with the reference to, reliance on, or use or misuse of such information.
Families for Depression Awareness HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES, IN ANY FORM OR AMOUNT, ARISING OUT OF ANY USE OF, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THE Families for Depression Awareness WEB SITE AND/OR ONLINE DISCUSSION BOARDS OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED ON THAT WEB SITE AND/OR ONLINE DISCUSSION BOARDS.
Links or pointers connecting the Families for Depression Awareness Web site and online discussion boards with other Internet sites are provided as a courtesy only. Families for Depression Awareness assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of content contained in any linked site, for the use, misuse, or reliance on information contained in any linked site, or for the compliance of such linked sites with any applicable laws. The content of any linked site does not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of Families for Depression Awareness. Families for Depression Awareness does not endorse, approve, or recommend the use of any specific treatment, medication, service or organization referenced in any Web site.
Use of Material Contributed by Users
In order to reach a wider audience and advance our mission, Families for Depression Awareness will occasionally use contributed writings in our public relations materials, or in printed books or other media for public distribution. When you submit a contribution to the Families for Depression Awareness, you agree that Families for Depression Awareness may use all or a part of your contribution in Families for Depression Awareness’s published materials. Identifying information will be deleted. By agreeing to this limited-use license to Families for Depression Awareness, you reserve the right to use your contribution for publication in any other way you choose.
Monitoring
Families for Depression Awareness does not actively monitor the site for inappropriate postings, and does not undertake editorial control of postings. Nevertheless, Families for Depression Awareness retains the right to monitor posted information and remove messages or materials that it believes are not in the best interests of Families for Depression Awareness and its readers.
Discussion Board Policy
Families for Depression Awareness Community Guidelines
Families for Depression Awareness discussion boards, e-mail, and other interactive features offer opportunities for meaningful interaction where users can share knowledge, experiences, and other helpful information. Since most of the interactions are public, the experience is best when people follow certain guidelines.
Use “Netiquette": There are several sources on the Internet that can help you communicate effectively using “Netiquette.” Quite simply, Netiquette is a set of core guidelines to help the cyberspace community behave productively while online. Since expression, gestures, and voice tone are all invisible to members, it’s helpful to understand basic online etiquette.
Use of Terminology: When posting about mood or depressive disorders, the terms “mental illness” and “manic-depression” should not be used. Instead, “bipolar disorder”, “depression”, “depressive disorder”, or “mood disorder” are all acceptable. The term “mental” can be received negatively and should not be used.
Be Succinct: Stay on topic and collect your thoughts before communicating them publicly in writing. If your comments are off topic, you may wish to indicate this early in your message or perhaps by using the letters “O/T” in the subject header.
Build Online Rapport: In addition to mutual understanding, conflicting points of view will surely arise at times. Remember to respect the opinions of others. Part of what makes a good community is the ability to see different points of view. Agreeing to disagree is good Netiquette. Those who foster good will attract more participation from others.
Avoid SPAM: Don’t “spam” the boards with multiple postings. Inappropriate messages, like advertising unproven “miracle cures” or products for sale, will be removed.
Respect Others: This is really the bottom line. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This includes refraining from using profanity or engaging in conduct that would be deemed inappropriate in real-life, face-to-face situations.
Contacting Families for Depression Awareness
If you have questions or concerns about the Families for Depression Awareness community guidelines, you can e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .