Today my friend, is R U OK? Day. That’s right, Thursday 15th September is the annual national day of niceness which aims to prevent suicide by encouraging YOU to connect with someone YOU care about in attempt to help stop life’s little problems become big ones.
R U OK? Day started back in 2009, when more than 1 million Aussies joined in, took some time out of their day to have open and honest conversations. Conversations that might have saved a life.
Tragically in Australia 2,100 people suicide each year. Men are approximately 4 times as likely to commit suicide than women (www.ruokday.com.au)
The R U OK? Day website tells us that “feeling isolated or hopeless can contribute to depression and other mental illnesses, which can ultimately result in suicide. Regular, meaningful conversations can protect those we know and love.”
So…what are you waiting for? Pick up the phone, send an email, message your mate on facebook, send a tweet, write a note…or dare I say it, ask someone in person – whatever your preference and ASK someone you know, or would like to get to know, to have a coffee with YOU, today!
Look out coffee shops – here we COME!
Still sound too hard? Luckily for you, the clever folk at R U OK? have even drafted up some tips for you on how to start an R U OK? Conversation, visit their website here.
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Well what a day…………. and hopefully with the great coverage that it is getting in the media,it will give it the awareness that it so rightly deserves. It is a timely reminder of how people can struggle in life without anyone having a clue. As someone who suffers from Post traumatic Stress Disorder from my days in the Police Force, I am well aware of the tell tale signs of someone struggling to cope with life. For others though the signs are not apparent and I can tell you from experience, someone just asking “How are you travelling” can open up a conversation that can impact so much on both people that it can save the life of one and change the perspective on life the other.
How often, after someone commits suicide that you hear people say “I didn’t realise they were depressed or they were always so happy I am so surprised, I just didn’t know” This unfortunately will never change completely but if by awareness we can stop one person from taking their life, then that in itself, is a win for everyone.
Please embrace the “RU OK? day and make someone feel special knowing that someone actually cares enough to ask.
Ty Armstrong
Founder – 2Help
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