Stage 5 · Lesson 6 of 6
Staying safe in communities
Most communities are welcoming, but some people use them to exploit, harass or scam. Protect yourself: do not share your address, phone number or documents with people you have only met online; meet new people in public places first; be wary of anyone who pushes for secrecy, money or personal photos, or who promises jobs in exchange for fees.
Leave groups that are hostile, mock beginners or make you feel unsafe, and report harassment to moderators or organisers. Trust your discomfort.
Common trapstaying in a group that makes you feel worse because it is the only one you know. There are always others, and leaving is allowed.
A question to check yourself come when you add the roadmap to your account. Add it
Resources for this stage
Practise
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Also worth your time
- Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World (Vivek H. Murthy)ReadPaid
Why community and belonging matter so much for health and work
Struggling right now? If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, contact local emergency services or a crisis line: Find a helpline (any country), Umang (Pakistan), Tele-MANAS, 14416 (India).