At Aurion and all across Australia, last week’s R U OK Day on Thursday 10 September was a great opportunity to check in with our family, friends, colleagues, and community to ask ‘R U OK?’ to build better relationships and support one another. Now that R U OK Day is officially ‘over’, we want to remind everyone that asking ‘R U OK?’ is important all year round and to keep the support going by including staying connected in their daily routine, especially as we continue to deal with the lasting impact of COVID-19.
Dealing with the pandemic has inspired some wonderful examples of how caring our whole community can be, and we need to hold on to that because that sense of genuine care and concern can be life-changing for those who are struggling.
To #StayConnected:
- Create a list: Think about who in your world, personal or professional, near or far who might be struggling.
- Dedicate the time: Make ‘time to ask’ as part of your daily routine.
- Choose your channel: Communicate in a way that works for you and the person you want to reach out to – send an SMS or email, make a voice or video call, or if social distancing permits you might want to chat over the fence, go for a walk together or catch up for a cuppa.
If you want some self-care tools or need guidance on how to support someone yourself, visit ruok.org.au
If you need professional support or know someone who does, visit ruok.org.au/findhelp
Holidays or some kind of a change from your usual routine can be wonderful for mental health and well-being, see our blog on How To Make The Most of Any Break.
