Published on Thursday, 8 September 2022 at 6:00:00 AM
This year the message is: You don’t need to be an expert to ask RU OK?
Listening and giving someone your time might be just what they need to help them through.
The work of health professionals is vital and their value cannot be underestimated, however we can all play a role in supporting the people in our world.
A conversation could change a life.
We all value our privacy and respect the privacy of others. You might be telling yourself ‘It’s none of my business’ or ‘They won’t want to talk to me about it anyway’.
It’s understandable to be unsure or a little embarrassed but it’s better to start a conversation than to ignore that feeling you have that something is not quite right. Having someone show they care can make all the difference for someone who is feeling overwhelmed or distressed.
RU OK? recommends having a conversation using these 4 steps:
- Ask RU OK?
- Listen with an open mind;
- Encourage Action;
- Check in.
R U OK? is a harm prevention charity that encourages people to stay connected and have conversations that can help others through difficult times in their lives.
Their work focuses on building the motivation, confidence and skills of the help-giver – the person who can have a meaningful conversation with someone who is struggling with life.
R U OK? contributes to suicide prevention efforts by encouraging people to invest more time in their personal relationships and building the capacity of informal support networks – friends, family and colleagues - to be alert to those around them, have a conversation if they identify signs of distress or difficulty and connect someone to appropriate support, long before they're in crisis.
Support is available
If a life is in danger or you’re concerned for your own or someone’s safety please call 000.
If you’re finding life tough or need some extra support, it can help to talk about how you’re feeling with someone you trust.
You and your loved ones can find support by contacting your local doctor or one of these crisis lines:
Lifeline (24/7)
13 11 14
lifeline.org.au
Suicide Call Back Service (24/7)
1300 659 467
suicidecallbackservice.org.au
Beyond Blue (24/7)
1300 224 636
beyondblue.org.au
Kids Helpline (24/7, for youth 5-25)
1800 55 1800
kidshelpline.com.au
MensLine (24/7)
1300 78 99 78
mensline.org.au
1800RESPECT (24/7)
1800 737 732
1800respect.org.au
13 YARN (24/7)
13 92 76
13yarn.org.au
QLife (3pm-midnight)
Anonymous, free LGBTI support
1800 184 527
qlife.org.au
Griefline (6am-midnight)
1300 845 745
griefline.org.au
Back to All News