R U OK? Day: A Well-Meaning Initiative That’s Lost Its Way?
It’s been about a week since R U OK? Day 2024, and I’ve been mulling over how it went. When I first came to Australia from Ireland, R U OK? Day really stood out to me. I remember walking into the office that first September and seeing all the yellow and black. People were checking in on each other, and it felt like everyone was making an effort to be a bit kinder. It was nice, you know?
But over the years, I’ve noticed things changing. What once felt genuine now often seems a bit forced. Instead of hand-drawn posters and real conversations, we’re getting mass emails and slick banners. It’s starting to feel less like a grassroots movement and more like just another corporate thing we have to do.
What’s Going On with Mental Health in Australia?
Look, the stats aren’t great:
- About 1 in 5 Aussies had some kind of mental health issue in the past year.
- For young people (16-24), it’s even worse – nearly 2 in 5 are struggling.
- And get this – 72% of us said we were feeling pretty stressed out in June this year.
Has R U OK? Day Become Just Another Marketing Thing?
These days, R U OK? Day in most offices means a flood of posters, emails, and social media posts. Companies change their logos, add frames to their profile pics, and suddenly everyone’s asking, “R U OK?” But how many of these places actually care about mental health the rest of the year?
I was chatting with some mates from different companies, and it seems like a mixed bag. Some workplaces are doing a good job, but for others, it’s just about looking good for a day.
It’s Not as Simple as Asking “R U OK?”
Don’t get me wrong, the idea behind R U OK? Day is good. We should be looking out for each other. But mental health is complicated, isn’t it? You can’t fix everything with one question on one day of the year.
Opening up about mental health stuff takes trust and time. It’s hard to do that when your boss is suddenly asking if you’re okay in the middle of a busy workday.
What Happens After R U OK? Day?
Here’s the thing – the day after R U OK? Day, everything goes back to normal. The posters come down, the emails stop, and it’s business as usual. But mental health doesn’t work like that, does it? You don’t stop feeling stressed or anxious just because R U OK? Day is over.
So, What Now?
R U OK? Day started with a simple idea – a mate looking out for another mate. That’s still important. But maybe we need to think about how we can make that a everyday thing, not just a once-a-year event.
Instead of just asking “R U OK?”, maybe we should be asking, “How can I actually help?” It’s about creating a culture where people feel comfortable talking about this stuff all the time, not just on one day.
Look, with so many of us feeling stressed out, we can’t just limit caring about mental health to one day a year. It’s up to all of us to keep the conversation going, to make it normal to talk about how we’re really doing.
So, let’s not just ask “R U OK?” Let’s think about how we can actually support each other every day. It doesn’t have to be big – maybe it’s just grabbing a coffee with a coworker who seems stressed, or actually listening when someone says they’re not doing great.
After all, isn’t looking out for each other what being a good mate is all about?
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
https://www.lifeline.org.au/
https://mensline.org.au/
