R U OK? Day 2024

Thursday 12 September is R U OK? Day 2024 and it’s important to remind everyone that every day is a day to ask ‘are you OK?’ and start a meaningful conversation with someone you notice might be struggling with life.

A lot can happen in a year, a month, a week. Whether it’s your friend, family member, colleague, partner, or teammate, the people you care about go through life’s ups and downs every day. So, ask R U OK? – any day – because life happens every day and a conversation could change a life.

How to ask someone R U OK?

By having regular, meaningful conversations, you build trust and normalise talking about what’s really going on, so when the people in your world find themselves struggling, they know you’re someone they can talk to.

You can access plenty of resources online to support the four steps of an R U OK? conversation: Ask R U OK?, Listen, Encourage Action and Check in.

In preparation to approach a conversation:

Ask yourself: AM I READY TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION?

• Am I in a good headspace?
• Am I willing to genuinely listen?
• Can I give as much time as needed?

Ask yourself: AM I PREPARED?

• Do I understand that if I ask how someone’s going, the answer could be: “No, I’m not”?
• Do I understand that I can’t ‘fix’ someone’s problems?
• Do I accept that they might not be ready to talk? Or they might not want to talk to me?

PICK YOUR MOMENT

• Choose somewhere relatively private and comfy
• Figure out a time that will be good to chat
• Make sure you allow enough time to chat properly

Here’s a 'How To Ask' Guide for ease of reference.

The University has a number of resources available to support members of our community with health and wellbeing.

Resources and support for students

To recognise the day each year, the University hosts a range of events to help students connect, discuss the importance of mental health and learn how to access support.

Visit the dedicated student page to find out about events and activities for students associated with R U OK? Day 2024 and to read about the range of health and wellbeing services available to students at any time.

Further, visit the Student Health and Wellbeing Digital Hub to find events, workshops and self-help resources to boost your wellbeing throughout the semester.

Resources and support for staff

There are a range of information and support networks available to staff at the University. These include:

• Employee Assistance Program offering confidential, personal and professional development resources
• University of Melbourne Health Service providing medical services to staff
• Safer Community Program providing support and advice about inappropriate, concerning or threatening behaviour
• Counselling and Psychological Services providing counselling, training and personal development opportunities
• Respect at Melbourne – a program of work supporting the University's commitment to eliminating sexual misconduct from our community

Additional resources

• Lifeline Australia – call 13 11 14 
• Beyond Blue – call 1300 22 46 36
• 13YARN – Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Crisis Support - call 13 92 76
• QLife – call 1800 184 527
• MensLine Australia – call 1300 78 99 78
• Kids Helpline – call 1800 55 1800
• Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling – call 1800 011 046
• Black Dog Institute – Better Mental Health 

UniSuper webcast – Managing Stress and Mental Health

UniSuper, the University of Melbourne's default super fund, is stepping up its mental health support this R U OK? Day and offering a Managing Stress and Mental Health webcast, hosted by clinical psychologist and lecturer Dr Carly Reid. All University of Melbourne staff are welcome to attend.

Date: Friday 13 September from 12pm to 12.45pm AEST.

Register via the link

R U OK? Day backgrounds for Zoom or Teams

You can show your support of the day, and the importance of having a conversation, with these backgrounds downloaded for your Zoom or Teams background. Download here.