Despite their sunny and happy disposition, Australians are not spared from the lurking darkness of suicide. In fact, the suicide rate reaches up to 2,400 deaths each year in Australia.
This reality has inspired the birth of the R U OK? campaign, which strives to end suicide and promote overall well-being in Australia and around the world. Australians have allotted one day dedicated to challenge all Aussies to start life-changing conversations with anyone undergoing hardships. This day is called the R U OK? Day and it was celebrated last September 11, 2014.
The project description for this day reads: "The aim of R U OK? Day is to engage Australians to connect with people in the community they may have concerns about, encouraging them to seek further help and to follow up to ensure that support is being provided. It encourages responsible public discussion of social isolation and its negative consequences such as suicide."
R U OK? Day highlights social connectedness and positive help-seeking, which can help people in need and in crisis. It also emphasizes that suicide prevention is the responsibility of the whole community. Both the government and non-government sectors are involved in this advocacy.
The objectives of R U OK? Day are: to promote awareness about mental health and suicide and reach out to those at risk in Australian communities; encourage constructive discussion about realities such as rural isolation, depression, indigenous dislocation, mental illness, body image, teen bullying, sexuality, and financial stress; and bring to the forefront the organizations that support those who are affected by suicide or at risk.
Peter Dutton, Australian Health Minister, believes that suicide affects so many Aussies and that there is a great need to find the time and courage to support people who need help. "Research tells us that strong relationships and a sense of belonging can help protect people from suicide,"
