day six hundred and eighteen - R U OK?

Today is R U OK? day, and it’s become huge. It’s integrated into school curriculums, there’s National coverage and most of us now know about it. As an organisation, they have done an amazing job to highlight the need to talk about Mental Health and provide some amazing tools on their website to help navigate the conversation that can stem from an honest answer to “Are you OK mate?”.

If you’re going to ask, be prepared. Read through the resources linked below and make sure you have the time and are in the headspace to really listen.

My biggest concern with the perception of R U OK? day is that it is a day. A singular day that we can ask, or that people care and you’ve got to wait a year before asking or thinking about it again. If it were exercise or healthy eating, one day of walking, going to the gym and eating healthily, with 364 other days of sitting on your couch going for the world record for cheezle eating, only getting up to open the door for home delivery and your biannual hose down, that single day of health would do nothing. 

Thankfully, it doesn’t need to be that way. R U OK? day is about raising awareness, educating us on how to ask the questions, how the conversations may flow, and linking people with organisations and mental health professionals that can help with the next steps if needed. It’s about breaking the stigma of talking about mental health, showing ways to open the conversation and being understanding and compassionate. It’s about helping connect people with others that can help improve their mental health and their lives.

R U OK does an amazing job, but don’t short change them. Every day is R U OK day.

Soundtrack of the day - I Will Survive - Cake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9rCUQjmkxU&ab_channel=CakeVEVO

Link of the day - R U OK? resources
https://www.ruok.org.au/every-day-resources

Kilt of the Day - A slightly worn out Ross Modern Hunting Tartan Sport Kilt