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R U OK?

In Week 8 on the 8th September, Australia acknowledges R U Ok Day. R U Ok is a harm prevention charity that was established to encourage people to have tough conversations with each other, about difficult times in their lives, and to encourage people to stay connected with others. The initiative aims to build the confidence and skills in ‘help-givers’ so that they can have meaningful conversations with people who may be struggling with their own mental health and assist these people to reach out for further support.

R U Ok contributes to suicide prevention by building the capacity of informal support networks of family, friends and colleagues. This then enables people to be alert to those around them and have conversations if they identify signs of distress or difficulty and then connect the person to appropriate support before they are in crisis.

The history of R U Ok Day centres around Barry Larkin and his son Gavin.

“In 1995, much-loved Barry Larkin was far from ok. His suicide left family and friends in deep grief and with endless questions. In 2009, his son Gavin Larkin chose to champion just one question to honour his father and to try and protect other families from the pain his endured.

“Are you OK?”

While collaborating with Janina Nearn on a documentary to raise awareness, the team quickly realised the documentary alone wouldn’t be enough. To genuinely change behaviour Australia-wide, a national campaign was needed. And from this realisation, and with Gavin and Janina’s expertise and passion, R U OK? was born. Gavin remained a passionate champion of the fact a conversation could change a life, even as cancer ended his in 2011. His legacy is a national Conversation Movement that is equipping Australians with the skills and confidence to support those struggling with life”. https://www.ruok.org.au/our-story

This week during the Year 7 – 12 Formation lesson, students worked through a presentation that focuses on the purpose of R U Ok Day, the signs to look for if someone may be struggling and what to do if someone around them is not ok. The topic may be sensitive for some students, so I encourage families to have conversations at home about suicide, symptoms of someone struggling with their mental health and what our young people can do if they or a friend may not be coping so well.

The power point presentation used with students this week was emailed to all parents.

Contact details for various support organisations available to young people in Australia, if they should find themselves in need of support, are attached below. Families may wish to put this on their fridge or noticeboard for young people to access if needed.

Finally for more information about R U Ok Day please visit https://www.ruok.org.au/how-to-ask

Talking about our own mental health struggles can be difficult. However, in order for us to end the suicide crisis in Australia, we need to build capacity in our young people to have open, honest and raw conversations with each other and with supportive adults around them, in order for them to avoid finding themselves in a situation of crisis.  Now more than ever, we need to be checking in with those around us to ensure that we are all ok and coping with the daily stresses we find ourselves in.

Ms Monica Day
Assistant Principal – Student Wellbeing

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