RUOK?

We all have crappy days. Totally normal, right? But what about when it stops being a normal crappy day, or two, and starts affecting someone's life? Mental health problems impact around one third of young people, and despite mental health becoming more socially acceptable to talk about, suicide is still the leading cause of death in young people. It's been shown that having good social connections is a crucial protector against mental health problems, and an integral part of getting back on your feet when you're having a hard time. 

With social connections being crucial to mental health, it's really important that we all know how to talk to people when we're worried about them. Looking after our friends is so important, and starting a conversation when you're concerned about someone can be really important in stopping little problems from getting bigger. It comes down to three simple words: are you okay? It might seem easy, but lots of people find having these kinds of conversations incredibly difficult. It can be hard to work out how to approach someone, what to say to them, & what to do if they tell you they are struggling. 

RUOK day is coming up on the 12th September, and we want to make sure that you guys are all comfortable and ready to start conversations with anyone you're worried about. Which is why we're dedicating a Getting Real session to thinking about how to have these incredibly important conversations! Remember: a conversation can change a life.  

This Monday (9th September) at 8pm AEST we'll be talking all about why these conversations are so important, what the difficulties are in starting a conversation about someone having a hard time, & how you can overcome them to make sure you have a meaningful conversation that helps you look out for your mates. This session will be relevant to everyone, so come join!