Washington, DC – The Lupus Foundation of America in partnership with Inspire, unveiled LupusConnect™, an online lupus community where individuals with lupus and their loved ones can engage with others like them to share experiences, find emotional support and discuss practical insights for coping with the challenges of the disease. LupusConnect is an easy-to-use, online platform that encourages its members to ask questions, reply to posts and read about others’ experiences in a safe and comforting community. It can be accessed 24/7 at LupusConnect.Inspire.com.

Research concluded last year by the Foundation showed that the majority of people impacted by lupus are looking for a resource to connect online with other people living with lupus. Based on this input and conversations with constituents, the Foundation partnered with Inspire to leverage its social network and build an online community that brings together people affected by lupus.

“No matter how isolated lupus can make people feel, LupusConnect offers people the opportunity to express their fears, frustrations and hopes with others who understand lupus firsthand,” said Sandra C. Raymond, Lupus Foundation of America CEO. “We are excited to partner with Inspire and to continue our commitment to providing people impacted by lupus with access to high-quality resources and support services.”

People affected by lupus can join LupusConnect at no charge and will experience a welcoming environment. Discussions cover a wide array of lupus-related topics, and include posts by members offering practical tips and resources that they have found useful for daily living with lupus. Members also have the ability to personalize their profile, follow specific posts of interest, engage in group discussions or direct messaging of members, and can add others as friends.

“In my experience, I’ve found that no matter what I’m going through with lupus, physically or emotionally, chances are that someone online has also gone through it,” said Joanna Mechlinski, who was diagnosed with lupus in 2002. “Within moments, I can connect with people who can give me advice or just empathize in a way that most healthy people can’t. With the launch of this new lupus online community, I hope to be able to make some new friends who understand what I’m going through.”