R U OK? Update
 

ADSA had hugely successful RUOK?Day events this year across all of our represented universities. Students enjoyed a free coffee on us as they asked each other "are you okay?" Many universities' student societies also put together snacks and various activities to encourage participation in healthy conversations. 

Mental health is just as important as dental health, and we are proud to support the mental health and wellbeing of the dentistry and oral health students around Australia. Many thanks to our sponsors, the Australian Dental Association, MIPS and Work the World for making the events a possibility.

 

Need someone to talk to? 

Mental Wellbeing & Support Contacts
 

 

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Q&A with R U OK?'s Brendan Maher

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R U OK?'s vision is a world where we're all connected and are protected from suicide.

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Last week ADSA's Amy Fan sat down with Brendan Maher to chat about what R U OK? is all about:

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Q. Hi Brendan, thank you for taking the time to tell us more about the R U OK? campaign. First of all, what does R U OK? mean to you?

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R U OK? is an amazing organisation to be involved with because it’s such a

simple message, about taking action, and is getting incredible engagement

in the community. We know that the act of showing someone that you care,

by having a simple conversation can help someone feel supported, 

connected and enhance their sense of belonging. It’s this sense of 

belonging that’s an incredibly important protective factor in suicide

prevention.

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Q. How did you get involved with the R U OK? organisation?

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I actually met R U OK?’s founder, the late Gavin Larkin at the launch event

for the very first R U OK?Day at Parliament House in Canberra in 2009. At

the time I was working for Lifeline Australia as part of their national

leadership team. We worked with R U OK? in the early days to help make

sure there was an appropriate pathway for help-givers and help-seekers – 

when conversations become too big for us to navigate. After seven years at

Lifeline I took a break and was thinking about my next move when the

opportunity to join the R U OK? team arose. That was three and a half years ago. We’ve always admired the energy and creativity that Gavin brought to bringing the R U OK? concept to life. Gavin remained a passionate champion of the fact a conversation could change a life, even as cancer ended his in 2011.

 

Q. What are your goals for R U OK?Day in 2016?

 

R U OK?Day is best described as R U OK?’s Grand Final. It’s our national day of action but is

both the end of a process and the beginning of a new one. My goals for this year are to

continue to build awareness and participation on the day. But more importantly, we want to

make sure that anyone who gets involved feels more empowered, more willing and more

able to reach out to someone they’re worried about and ask the simplest of questions “are

you okay?” We also want people to think about how they can keep the conversation going

365 days of the year.

 

Q. What do you believe are the most pressing mental health issues facing our young

adults and specifically the young graduating workforce?

 

Suicide takes far too many young Australians. It’s the leading cause Australians under 44

years. More than 2,600 Australians suicide each year. That’s about 8 people every day.

Suicide is the biggest killer of Men, who account for around 75 per cent of all suicide

deaths. One suicide is one too many but it’s a very complex issue with many people

working very tirelessly and passionately in prevention. I believe we need to talk more

about it and provide more opportunities for young people to better identify signs and

behaviours that someone might be at risk, and know how to intervene.

 

Q. If there was one thing you wanted the students to get out of R U OK?Day, what

would it be?

 

Be authentic. R U OK?Day shouldn’t just be about yellow t-shirts, balloons and cupcakes. This

year we’re asking all Australians to reconnect with someone they’ve lost touch with, as the

strength of our relationships can greatly enhance our capacity to get through the tough

times. If you’re getting involved in R U OK?Day, maybe think about sharing a time in your life

that someone was there for you and it made a difference (no matter how big or small).

Focus on the positives, so people are inspired by your example. Share specific things they

they said or did that helped. Avoid focussing on specific suicide references (especially

location and method), so as not to reinforce thoughts of risky behaviour. Know that

www.ruok.org.au is the number one place for you to go if you need tips on how to start and

navigate a conversation.

 

Thank you for your time!

 

Amy (An Ting) Fan

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