Making ‘R U OK?’ a year-round conversation

THE message of having discussions about mental health year-round and not on just one day is the message Tony McManus has been preaching for years.

Now, R U OK? Day is advocating for it in 2024.

A Geelong regional ambassador for the annual national day of action, Mr McManus said there had been plenty of interest from organisations, businesses and individuals on how to get involved with the 2024 event, which falls on Thursday, September 12.

Mr McManus also believed this year’s theme ‘Ask R U OK? Any Day’ proposes an active and comprehensive way to support those who might be in need of help.

“I welcome the theme for this year’s R U OK? Day, because I think it widens the focus of when it is okay to ask someone if they are okay,” he said.

“Unfortunately the suicide rate is not decreasing and there is also a growing concern about the impact of mental health in young people post-pandemic and the growing impact of social media.

“It’s not just important to ask the question of our peers, but also of young people too.”

This year’s theme came from the idea that having regular, meaningful conversations, trust can be built, and conversations normalise talking about what is going on in someone’s life.

Mr McManus said the community could get involved on September 12 through a range of activities, with the assistance of the R U OK? Day team.

Ways to get involved on the day include conducting morning teas, supplying R U OK? Day cupcakes and sharing resource packets.

The Suicide Prevention Australia Community Tracker states 72 per cent of Australians are dealing with elevated levels of distress, meaning more people than ever are in need of these conversations.

Mr McManus said the community as a whole needed to continue to learn how to have difficult conversations with others but must always remember people were not there to fix others, but to support them instead.

“I always ask people to research the best ways to ask a person if they’re okay, because the situation is always important.

“You’re not going to ask someone on a Friday at 4.45pm as they’re trying to get out the door, but on another day during a coffee might be better.

“Things like that can be found on the R U OK? Day website and I advise anyone interested to head there.”

Mr McManus and the R U OK? Day team will also appear at the Geelong Show on October 19 to answer any of the community’s questions.

For more information, head to ruok.org.au