NEXT Thursday, 9 September, people are being encouraged to start meaningful conversations with friends, family and loved ones with a simple but important question.<\/p>\n
\u2018Are you okay?\u2019<\/p>\n
R U OK? Day is aimed at getting Aussies to talk amongst each other about their wellbeing and this year\u2019s theme is \u2018are they really<\/em> OK? Ask them today\u2019.<\/p>\n Community ambassador for R U OK? Day, Megan Barrow, is sharing her own lived experiences of mental health issues to inspire others to talk.<\/p>\n Since childhood, Ms Barrow has lived with anxiety and in early adulthood she developed depression and agoraphobia.<\/p>\n \u201cI describe it as a fear of fear itself. Your brain just cycles into thinking anything could harm you,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cAt my worst I was stuck on the couch and when I was home alone I would just be terrified to move thinking \u2018I\u2019m going to collapse or die if I move\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Now 50 years old, Ms Barrow said she\u2019s mentally healthier than she\u2019s ever been after going through the \u201cincredibly difficult\u201d process of recovery and holds public presentations for R U OK? aimed at teaching people how to ask the question and share the real impact it can have.<\/p>\n \u201cI very much love the message of R U OK? and delivering it, that the more we check in when we\u2019re well, the more we notice when people are out of character and maybe slipping into not being well,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cConnection and having a conversation with someone really can make you feel mattered, and that you\u2019re cared about and that can be the difference between slipping into crisis or critical thinking.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t underestimate the power of a conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n R U OK?\u2019s website offers a range of resources outlining how people can ask the question using the organisation\u2019s four-step method to ask, listen, encourage action and check in, as well as information on how to prepare for a chat.<\/p>\n