What is the PSOcial Space Hangout? Your Guide to Our Monthly Community Call

Living with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis (PsA) often means navigating a lot of "in-between" time. You have your specialist appointments and your treatment plans, but what about the day-to-day? What about the itch that keeps you up at night, the frustration of a flare-up, or the feeling that friends and family don’t quite get the fatigue?

At Psoriatic Disease UK, we believe that peer support is a vital piece of the management puzzle. That’s why we host the PSOcial Space Hangout—a monthly gathering in our Discord server designed to get people talking, sharing, and supporting one another.

What is the PSOcial Space Hangout?

The Hangout is an informal, monthly voice and text call held on the first Wednesday of every month at 7:00 PM.

It isn’t a medical seminar or a formal support group with an agenda. Instead, it’s a digital "safe space" where you can drop in, chat with others who have similar lived experiences, and realise you aren’t on this journey alone.

"I’m new to Discord—how does it work?"

We know that joining a new platform can feel like a hurdle. If you’ve never used Discord before, think of it as a community hub. Once you join our server, you’ll see different "channels" for different topics. At 7:00 PM on the night of the hangout, we all gather in the voice channel called Psocial Voice Chat (or PSOcial Space Hangout channel if we have a special guest), but don't worry, you don't have to use your voice if you don't want to!

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I have to turn my camera on?

  Absolutely not. Most of our members prefer to stay off-camera. This is a "come as you are" space—whether you’re in your pyjamas or just don't feel like being seen, you are welcome.

• What if I’m too shy to speak?

  There is zero pressure to use your microphone. Many people join the call to listen and type their thoughts in the associated text chat instead. You can participate as much or as little as you like.

• What do you talk about?

  Everything! We talk about the highs and lows of various treatments, tips for managing flares at work, and how to talk to doctors. But we also talk about our hobbies, what we’re watching on TV, families, and life outside of our diagnosis. Some nights, we even play free-to-play multiplayer games together directly in Discord, so you can join in or simply sit back and enjoy the chaos!

• Why join?

  Research shows that peer support can significantly reduce the emotional burden of chronic illness. The Hangout helps you manage the "gaps" between medical appointments by providing a community to lean on in real time. We also hope it will encourage you to make use of the space between Hangouts, with informal voice chats between community members helping to strengthen peer support connections and build lasting friendships.

  
  

How to Join Us

It’s completely free to join. All you need is a Discord account (which takes two minutes to set up) and the link below.

When: First Wednesday of the month @ 7:00pm

Where: The PSOcial Space Discord Server

Link to Join: http://psocial.psor.org

Whether you have been living with psoriatic disease for decades or were diagnosed yesterday, there is a seat at the table for you. We can’t wait to meet you.

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 Quick Start: Your 3-Step Guide to Joining the Hangout

If you’ve never used Discord before, don’t worry! Follow these three simple steps to get from the link to the conversation.

1. Create Your Account

When you click psocial.psor.org, you’ll be prompted to "Accept Invite."

• On Mobile: It will ask you to download the Discord app.

• On Desktop: You can use the app OR just run it in your internet browser.

  Pro Tip: Choose a username you’re comfortable with. It doesn't have to be your real name!

2. Find the "Voice Channel"

Once you are inside the PSOcial Space server, look at the left-hand sidebar. You’ll see a list of channels starting with a # (for text) or a speaker icon 🔊 (for voice).

• Look for the channel named "Psocial Voice Chat" (or "PSOcial Space Hangout" channel if we have a special guest).

• Click the name of the channel once to hop in!

3. Control Your Experience

Once you join the call, a control bar will appear (usually at the bottom of the screen). Here is your "Privacy Dashboard":

• The Microphone Icon: Click this to Mute yourself. A red slash means no one can hear you—perfect if you just want to listen!

• The Video Camera Icon: This stays OFF by default. You don't need to touch it unless you really want to be seen.

• The "Chat" Bubble: If you are muted but want to type a comment, click the small speech bubble icon to open the text chat for that call.

Stuck? Look for the #Welcome text channel and type "I'm new and lost!" One of our friendly moderators will jump in to guide you. You can also find our general step-by-step guide to joining our Discord in our 'Getting Started' guide here.