R U OK? Day is Thursday 10 September 2020. It’s our national day of action when we remind Australians that every day is the day to ask, “Are you OK?” if someone in your world is struggling with life’s ups and downs. The message for R U OK?Day 2020 is ‘THERE’S MORE TO SAY AFTER R U OK?’
The past six months have been challenging for everyone in many different ways so now is the time that it is even more important to stay connected with friends, family and work colleagues. R U Ok? inspires and empowers everyone to meaningfully connect with the people around them and start a conversation with anyone who may be struggling with life. You don’t need to be an expert to reach out – just a good friend and a great listener. This year though the aim is to help people take that next step say so you can help someone feel supported and access appropriate help long before they’re in crisis, which can make a really positive difference to their life.
Before you can look out for others, you need to look out for yourself. And that’s ok. If you’re not in the right headspace or you don’t think you’re the right person to have the conversation, try to think of someone else in their support network who could talk to them. To help you decide whether you’re ready to start a meaningful conversation, ask yourself:
- Am I ready?
- Am I prepared?
- Have I picked the right moment?
The next step in asking R U OK? Then being prepared for what next:
- Ask R U OK?
- Listen with an open mind
- Encourage action
- Check in
And of course if you feel like the conversation is too big for you, family, friends or someone might be at real risk contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 for crisis support.
This is just a basic outline of the steps to make sure you are in the right space to ask the question and then tips on how to follow up. For a full list of resources head to https://www.ruok.org.au/
Also find attached some great mental health resources from Psychologist Christie Arbuckle which are a great read and has some great tips for maintaining mental wellness during periods of isolation or lockdown.