The question we can all ask, today and every day

R U OK? Day is Australia’s national day of action, originally established through Gavin Larkin’s lived experience of suicide bereavement in 1995.

CAPTION: You don’t have to be a mental health professional to ask R U OK? Story by Leading Seaman Kylie Jagiello.

It is now a day where we can all remind each other that it is ok to ask “R U OK?” today and every day.

This year’s theme is “Ask: R U OK? No qualifications needed”, due to 40 per cent of Australians believing it is a conversation best left to an expert.

Lina May, Acting Assistant Director of Mental Health Promotion in the Australian Defence Force Centre for Mental Health, wants people to know you don’t need to be a mental health professional to ask R U OK?

“Many people avoid these conversations because they worry they don’t know how to help, or how to fix the problem, but just listening and giving someone your time might be just what they need to help them when needed,” Ms May said.

R U OK? Day is a reminder of the importance of simply reaching out and asking the question, listening to one another, encouraging action, however large or small, and to check in with your friends, family, colleagues or loved ones.

Defence personnel are encouraged to recognise R U OK? Day and World Suicide Prevention Day during the week of September 5-9, 2022.

Further information on R U OK? Day can be found at A conversation could change a life | R U OK?


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