Mid North Coast Local Health District
Mid North Health Local Health District
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yellow and black rectangle with work RU OK Day written in yellow on the black background and Thursday 14 September 2023 written in black on the yellow background.

Every day is the day to ask ‘are you okay?’

Sep 06, 2023

Have you noticed someone you know or care about isn’t behaving as they normally would? Perhaps they seem a bit flat or quiet? Or they’re just not themselves? Trust your gut instinct and ask R U OK.

By starting a conversation and asking them if they are OK, you could help that family member, friend or colleague to open up.

This year R U OK? Day is on Thursday 14 September 2023, and is our National Day of Action when we remind Australians that every day is the day to ask, ‘are you OK?’ and start a meaningful conversation whenever they spot the signs that someone they care about might be struggling with life.

The statistics on mental health in Australia shared at the R U OK? Day Virtual launch are quite troubling. It is very likely that you are working with someone currently going through some sort of distress.

This only emphasises the growing need for everyone to work consciously to promote greater mental health and wellbeing practices. Encouraging and normalising meaningful conversations around mental health and building an R U OK? culture at work can help create a psychologically safe environment to work in.

That being said, many people feel as though they are not well-equipped to have these types of conversations. We are not all mental health professionals after all. We can all be advocates for greater wellbeing in the workplace by getting better informed on how to have these conversations.  How to ask R U OK? resources can easily be implemented in your workplace to start the conversation or keep a conversation going.

Useful contacts for someone who’s not OK. Encourage them to call these Australian crisis lines and professionals.

Go to the Health Safety and Wellbeing EAP Intranet page for helpful websites and other resources.

 

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