The purpose of this study was to examine the functions of a Bulletin Board System. A BBS for socially withdrawn people was selected because of the increasing number of such cases and the difficulties for mental health professionals to treat and/or access these people. An analysis of the posted discourses showed that the BBS would work as a self-help resource providing participants with opportunities for self-disclosure and extending supportive discourses. Interviews with the systemoperator and participant observation in the off-line meetings found a unique advantae of the BBS. It served as mediator for on-line relationships among the participants leading toward real or live face-to-face relationships.
