Thursday October 7th is R U OK? Day.
It's a day aimed at getting Australians to ask someone, a friend, a colleague or family member if they are okay. It's all about suicide prevention & helping people. To listen to them and finding out if they really are okay.
I'm all for suicide prevention. After all I did lose one of my brothers this way. He felt that there was no one to listen to him. That there was no one there to be his friend. He felt that there was no other way. I am sure that he felt terribly isolated and extremely depressed too.
So if you get the chance ask someone if they are okay please do it. They may just need to know that you are there to listen. You don't have to solve their problems but you may just make a difference. Or it may just be a way to let your friend, colleague or family member know that you care & that you want to get to know them better.
If they do need help encourage them to contact their GP or Lifeline.
Beyond Blue
Lifeline 13 11 14
No matter where you are in the world you should ask someone Are You Okay? Such a simple question could make a HUGE difference.
This is the first time I've ever heard of this day! It's too bad we have to have a day legislated, so to speak, to make us care enough about each other enough to ask Are you okay. *Sigh*
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of this day either. From what the website said this isn't their first year. I only found out about this the other day from another blog I visit tinagray.me & there have been commercials on TV.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I don't think we should have a day organised to get us to ask but it is a good way to remind though.