//method I am currently using
Scrollbar.GetComponent<Scrollbar>().value = -1f

//this method appears to update the canvas but kills functionality of the scrollbar
Scrollrect.GetComponent<ScrollRect>().verticalNormalizedPosition = 0.5f;

void Update ()
    {
        //querying database every 3 seconds so doesnt flood host while testing
        if(Time.time >= nextUpdate)
        {
            nextUpdate = Mathf.FloorToInt(Time.time)+3;
            if (LastMessageID == null) { StartCoroutine(getLastMessageIDfromDB()); }
      else  {getLobbyChatMessage ();}
        }
    }


  public void getLobbyChatMessage ()
  {
    StartCoroutine(getLobbyChat(0, "Public", LastMessageID));
  }

    public IEnumerator getLobbyChat (int game_id, string channel, string LastMessageID)
    {
    WWWForm newForm = new WWWForm ();
        newForm.AddField ("game_id", game_id); //post data sent to php
        newForm.AddField ("channel", channel);//post data sent to php
        newForm.AddField ("LastMessageID", LastMessageID);//post data sent to php
        WWW w = new WWW (getChatURL, newForm);
        while (!w.isDone) { yield return w;}
        if (w.error != null) {  Debug.Log("There was a problem getting info:" + w.error); }
        else
        {
      result = w.text;
            values = result.Split("|"[0]);
            if (values.Length >= 1)
            {
                for (int i = 0; i < (values.Length - 1); i++)
                {
          string cleanedMessage = WWW.UnEscapeURL(values[4]).ToString();
          myNewMessage = Instantiate(NewMessagePrefab, transform.position, Quaternion.identity)  as GameObject;
          myNewMessage.transform.SetParent(ChatParent);
          newMessage = myNewMessage.GetComponent<Text>();
          newMessage.text = "[" + values[5] + "]" + "[" + values[3] + "] " + cleanedMessage;
          myNewMessage.name = "[" + values[5] + "]" + "[" + values[3] + "] " + cleanedMessage;
        }
      Scrollbar.GetComponent<Scrollbar>().value = -1f;
            }
    }
    }