Community Guidelines

Last Updated

Why We Have Guidelines

Pathpal is a space built for people navigating grief, loss, and life's hardest transitions. Because of that, we hold this community to a higher standard of care than most platforms. These guidelines exist to protect that space, so that everyone who comes here can feel safe, seen, and held.

These guidelines apply across all parts of Pathpal - community posts, chat messages, group workshops, 1:1 sessions, and any shared content.


What We Ask of You

Show up with care Everyone here is carrying something. Speak to others the way you would want to be spoken to in your hardest moment.

Respect privacy Don't share another person's story, image, or identifying details without their permission, inside or outside the platform.

Stay present, not prescriptive Grief doesn't have a fix. Avoid giving unsolicited advice, comparing losses, or suggesting someone "should" be further along.

Make space for every kind of loss Grief shows up in many forms; bereavement, divorce, estrangement, diagnosis, identity loss, and more. All forms of loss are welcome here.


What's Not Allowed

To keep Pathpal a safe space, the following are not permitted anywhere on the platform:

  • Harassment or bullying of any kind, toward any person

  • Hate speech or discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic

  • Graphic or violent content, including detailed descriptions of self-harm methods

  • Sexual or suggestive content of any kind

  • Spam, solicitation, or advertising unrelated to grief support

  • Impersonation of another person, including Pathpal staff or AI facilitators

  • Sharing another person's personal information without their consent

  • Content that promotes or glorifies self-harm, suicide, or substance misuse

  • Soliciting or sharing contact information for purposes outside of Pathpal's intended use


A Note on Difficult Content

We understand that grief can bring up dark, raw, and difficult feelings, and we never want this to be a place where people feel they can't be honest. Sharing that you are struggling, in pain, or having a hard day is always welcome here.

The line we draw is around content that could cause harm, to you or to others. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of self-harm, we want you to know that support is available immediately.

If your message is flagged by our system, it does not mean you've done anything wrong , it means our safety systems are doing their job. If you're ever unsure why something was blocked, you can reach out to us directly at support@mypathpal.com.


How We Moderate

Pathpal uses a combination of automated systems and human review to help keep this community safe:

  • Automated detection flags content that may violate these guidelines before it's posted

  • Crisis monitoring is in place to identify signs of distress and connect people with immediate support — this is separate from standard moderation and is designed to help, not to penalize

  • Human review may occur in limited circumstances for safety, quality, and compliance purposes, as outlined in our [Privacy Policy]

We do not use moderation to silence difficult emotions — only to prevent harm.


What Happens If Content Is Blocked

If a message, photo, or post doesn't meet these guidelines, it won't be delivered or published. You'll see a notice letting you know the content couldn't be shared. This is automatic and is not a judgment of you as a person, it's part of how we keep this space safe for everyone.

If you believe content was blocked in error, please contact us at support@mypathpal.com and we'll review it.


Enforcement

Violations of these guidelines may result in:

  • A content removal or block

  • A warning

  • Temporary restriction of community features

  • In serious or repeated cases, suspension or termination of your Pathpal account

We always aim to assume good intent first, but we will act quickly and firmly where safety is at risk.


Reporting a Concern

If you see something that concerns you, whether it's another user's post, a message, or anything that feels unsafe, please reach out to us at support@mypathpal.com. We take every report seriously and will respond as quickly as we can.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, please contact emergency services right away.


A Final Word

These guidelines aren't about rules for their own sake. They exist because grief deserves a space that is gentle, honest, and safe, and because the people who come here, in some of their hardest moments, deserve to be protected while they do.

Thank you for being part of this community with care.

For questions about these guidelines, contact support@mypathpal.com.

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