A **channel** is a named group conversation for more than two people — for example a house team, a shift handoff group, or a topic like medication questions.

Only **Managers** and **Billing users** can create channels, rename them, and add or remove members. Staff and guests can participate once they are members.

## Create a channel

1. Open **Messages**.
2. Click the **+** next to **Channels**.
3. Enter a **Name** (for example `team-standup`).
4. Leave **Announcement channel** off unless you want a one-way broadcast. See [Announcement channels](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/announcement-channels).
5. Under **Members**, type names to add people from the roster. You can also type **@** and choose a shortcut to add several people at once:
   - **@here** — everyone you are allowed to add
   - **@managers** / **@staff** / **@guests** — those roles from your roster
   - **@group** — members of a company group who are also on your roster
6. Click **Create**.

Channels appear in the sidebar with a **#** before the name.

## Who you can add

Only Managers and Billing users add members. They can add anyone eligible for Messages in the company — active team members and self-reporters who have messaging allowed.

A regular (non-announcement) channel may include **at most one** self-reporter. To message **many** self-reporters at once, use an announcement channel.

Staff and guests do not get a member list. They see the channel name, who posts, and names when they type **@** — not a roster of everyone in the channel.

## Edit members or rename

1. Open the channel.
2. Open the conversation **⋯** menu and choose **Edit**.
3. Change the name and/or members, then save. The **Members** field accepts the same **@** shortcuts as when you create a channel.

You cannot remove the person who created the channel.

## Mute, archive, and leave behavior

- **Mute notifications** — stops ordinary alerts for you on that channel; @mentions can still notify you.
- **Archive** — available to the **creator** only. Archiving removes the conversation from everyone’s list after confirmation. Use this when the channel is finished, not for a temporary mute.

Staff and guests do not get an Edit/Archive menu unless they created the conversation (archive is creator-only) or have mute available.

## Sending in a channel

People in the channel can type a message and press **Send**. Use **@** to mention someone (or a group) already in the channel. They get a mention alert right away — including if they muted the channel. See [Mentions, search, and manager review](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/mentions-search-and-manager-review).

In an **announcement channel**, only the person who created it can post. Everyone else can read. See [Announcement channels](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/announcement-channels).

Channel messages are still chat — not clinical documentation — unless a manager uses **Document**.

## Common questions

- **Can staff create channels?** — No. Ask a Manager or Billing user.
- **Can I turn a regular channel into an announcement later?** — No. Announcement is chosen only when the channel is created.
- **Why can’t I add a second self-reporter?** — Regular channels allow only one. Use an announcement channel to reach many self-reporters (read-only for them).

## Related articles

- [Messages overview](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/messages-overview)
- [Announcement channels](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/announcement-channels)
- [Messaging with self-reporters](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/messaging-with-self-reporters)