Australians nationwide today will join together to mark R U OK?Day, a national day of action and a reminder that every day is a day to meaningfully ask your friends, family, and colleagues, ‘are you OK?’.
Thousands of events will be hosted by community groups, workplaces, schools, suicide prevention networks, and sports clubs, to champion, ‘R U OK?, I’m here to hear’ and reinforce the message that genuinely listening is key to an authentic R U OK? conversation.
Knox locals can come together at Arcare Knox, and recognising R U OK Day with a surprise ice cream truck visit for staff and locals alike.
Residents and staff will be also given information and activity packs about R U OK Day as well as a R U OK cupcake with lunch.
R U OK? will stream a free R U OK? Day virtual event at midday today, featuring personal stories of lived experience and practical conversation tips, including the four steps of an R U OK? conversation (ALEC – Ask, Listen, Encourage action and Check in).
South Australian Eric Cruz, 40, is an R U OK? volunteer community ambassador whose passion for mental health awareness stems from his own lived experience with anxiety and depression as well as the impact it has had on those close to him.
“I vividly recall when somebody asked me [the question] when I was in a dark place in my life.
“The question, ‘are you OK?’, those three words, made me feel less isolated. It was a chance for me to connect with somebody who really wanted to listen and hear how I felt at the time,” he said.
‘R U OK?, I’m here to hear’, was developed in response to research which underscored the impact a genuine conversation can have on someone who is struggling with life.
More than four in five people who engaged in a meaningful conversation felt better about managing their situation having talked it through and felt supported, heard, and safe during the conversation.
Mr Cruz’s experience reinforces the positive impact of showing genuine interest and concern when you ask someone, ‘are you OK?’ and have a meaningful conversation.
“That conversation really made me feel cared for.
“It made me realise I was going to be alright and that I didn’t have to go through this journey alone,” he said.
However, the research also found that two in five respondents (38%) who said they were OK actually were not.
The three leading factors that would help people open up more and feel comfortable having a conversation about their mental health and wellbeing are trust, authenticity and their environment.
R U OK? CEO Katherine Newton wants Australians to let the people they care about know they’re here, to really hear, because a conversation could change a life.
“For an R U OK? conversation to be life-changing, and potentially lifesaving, it must be authentic.
“You need to ask this question because you mean it, because you care about the person you’re asking and because you genuinely want to listen to the answer.
“R U OK? conversations work best when two people know and trust each other.
“They’re familiar with each other’s routines and behaviours, and they likely know what’s going on in each other’s lives.
“This trust, along with consideration of the where and when a conversation will take place contributes to making an R U OK? conversation truly meaningful,” she said.
The Suicide Prevention Australia September 2023 Community Tracker revealed 29% of respondents know someone, directly or indirectly, who has died by or attempted suicide in the previous 12 months while one in seven report having experienced suicidal behaviour in the same period.
For the fifth quarter running, cost-of-living and personal debt remained the number one issue driving distress.
Ms Newton said in recent years there has been a lot for Australians to deal with.
“It’s important for us to recognise that the people we care about may be feeling ongoing effects, long after something has happened to them.
“We need to let them know we’re still here to hear,” she said.
For support at any time of day or night, Lifeline provides free and confidential crisis support.
Call 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 or chat online at: lifeline.org.au.
13YARN is a free 24/7 service offering crisis support for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people.
Call 13YARN (13 92 76).
