The message from this year\u2019s R U OK? Day is making sure we are prepared to ask that question of those near and dear to us any day of the year and that sits perfectly with Limestone Coast R U OK? Day ambassador Tracey Wanganeen.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always valued the important of asking RU OK? any day which is this year\u2019s RU OK? Day theme,\u201d Tracey said. \u201cI had been working with StandBy Support After Suicide across regional SA for several years and had often supported RU OK Day events and used their positive messaging when engaging with communities. In suicide prevention work connection is a key preventative factor and I understood the importance of checking in with people we suspected may be having a difficult time.\u201d<\/p>\n
When it comes to marking the day in this region, which is Thursday, September 12, Tracey believes keeping it simple is the best policy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am the Acting Chair of the Mount Gambier & District Suicide Prevention Network and each year the network has collaborated with services to be present at a couple of local coffee shops to \u2018shout\u2019 people a coffee and suggest they check in on someone that day and ask RU OK? ,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
This year Slice of Metro is the location for a conversation and a cuppa from 8am-10am with the Marketplace\u2019s Expresso Eatery hosting the local team from 10am-12noon.<\/p>\n
Tracey\u2019s passion for the mental health space is long standing despite it being a late career change, completing her Social Work Degree as a mature age student and applying for that initial role at StandBy,<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t really know exactly what the work would entail but I came out of that interview knowing that I really wanted that job,\u201d she said. \u201cIt is a privilege to work with people in the difficult times in their lives with the aim of assisting them to find a way forward. Now, working as the centre manager of Mount Gambier Medicare Mental Health Centre (formerly Head to Health) people can walk in on any day they decide they are ready to access support OR people wanting to support someone can access advice on how best to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
And given Tracey\u2019s strongly held view that R U Ok? Day should be something we make every day, she is happy to provide some tips for those of us who aren\u2019t trained in the space.<\/p>\n
\u201cRU OK? can be asked a number of ways, how are you, what\u2019s happening etc \u2013 but the intention is the same,\u201d Tracey said. \u201cWe really need to check in with people when we notice a change in their usual behaviour like not turning up to sport training or other social activities they would usually participate in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tracey, as an RU OK Ambassador, can be accessed all year around.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can be requested to be a guest speaker in workplace and sometimes I have delivered virtual presentations for workplaces in other States,\u201d she said. \u201cThis year I would encourage all workplaces to think about how they can utilise the RU OK Day message of checking in ANY DAY and how they can tap into that across the year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Check out the RU OK Day website where ambassadors as guest speakers or to be present at an event can be requested.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The message from this year\u2019s R U OK? Day is making sure we are prepared to ask that question of those near and dear to us any day of the year and that sits perfectly with Limestone Coast R U OK? Day ambassador Tracey Wanganeen. \u201cI always valued the important of asking RU OK? any […]<\/p>\n