In any given year in Australia, one in five of us will experience symptoms of mental illness, but 60% will not reach out for help. R U OK? day, on September 14, aims to reduce the stigma against seeking mental health support by encouraging us to make meaningful conversations part of our everyday relationships. By asking, ‘Are you OK?’ and listening with compassion, we can help to decrease the feelings of disconnection and unbelonging that put people at risk and support them to seek help long before they reach crisis.
No one’s life is free from problems, but the burden can be lightened when we help each other to feel safe, heard and connected at home, work, in the classroom and in the community. So, on September 14, ask, ‘Are you OK?’ and keep the conversation going every day – you might just change a life.
Head to R U OK? for resources and information about how Griffith is supporting R U OK? not only on September 14 but all year round, and get involved by:
- taking the wellbeing quiz and discovering the five ways to wellbeing
- reading the practical guide for Griffith staff, which will guide you through starting a conversation with someone who might not be OK
- hosting an R U OK? Day event with your team – the most creative and impactful team event will win a $200 local coffee shop voucher
- registering to attend the R U Okay? day BUPA mental health package webinar
- visiting the R U OK? day market stall on the Gold Coast Campus.
To learn more about mental health in the workplace see some of Griffith’s open access research:
- Evidence for implementation of interventions to promote mental health in the workplace: a systematic scoping review protocol
- Supporting employees with mental illness and reducing mental illness-related stigma in the workplace: an expert survey
- Living in quiet desperation: The mental health epidemic in Australia’s higher education
Find more open access research on mental health in Griffith Research Online.
