For those who don’t know, R U Ok? Day is a National Day of Action to remind Australians to ask others “are you ok?”. The point is to start a conversation around mental health and start a meaningful conversation. That’s all good and positive, so then what’s the problem?
Before continuing any further please note that I am not a professional. If you or anyone you know is struggling, a list of mental health resources can be found at the end of this post.
Problems
The campaign has had a positive impact on society. However, while the day reminds people to ask if others are ok, the part that gets across to most people ends at that. It does not teach or remind people how to respond when individuals say that they are struggling. Many people still don’t know how to respond appropriately when speaking with someone who says they’re struggling with their mental health. The responses of those who we open up to can be so important and influential. Some people respond by simply brushing it off and avoiding the conversation, and some say things that seriously just do not help at all.
On top of that, the notion of having a specific day of the year to remind society about mental wellbeing of others makes it feel like people only need to ask if someone is ok once during a whole year. People should keep in mind that they should ask when they notice them struggling and at any time of the year, instead of subconsciously limiting themselves to doing this on at a certain time of the year.
Solutions
A Simple question like “how can I help?” is a great way to get the conversation going further and providing more help to those who are struggling. Sometimes their answer might be that they’re unsure how you can help, but that’s ok. That’s where you can suggest healthy ideas such as asking if they’d like to talk to a counsellor or therapist, if they’d like to simply vent, if they’d like a distraction, and much more. Also, although the campaign helps reduce the stigma around mental health, there is still plenty of it going around. Perhaps subtle reminders all year round could further reduce stigma whilst reminding people to ask about wellbeing more often.
If you or anyone you know is in crisis, please call your local emergency.
Mental health resources:
- Beyond Blue
- Headspace
- SAMHSA
- Kidshelpline
- Black Dog Institute
- Lifeline
- Suicide Call-back Service
- Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- International list of suicide hotlines
Some other resources can be found here.
