September 12, 2017
The annual RU OK Day? will be marked in the South Burnett this Thursday (September 14) with two free community breakfasts in Kingaroy and Nanango, and a march and community barbecue lunch in Cherbourg.
The community breakfasts have been organised by the South Burnett Suicide Prevention Working Group as part of the national RU OK Day campaign, which aims to raise awareness about suicide prevention strategies.
Right now, suicide is the leading cause of death amongst Australians aged 15-44, with about eight people in this age bracket committing suicide every day.
RU OK is founded – in part – on the theories of United States academic Dr Thomas Joiner.
Because his father took his own life, Dr Joiner dedicated his research to try and answer the question “why?”, and his theory suggests there are three forces at play in someone at risk of suicide.
The first force is the person thinks they’re a burden on others; the second is that they can withstand a high degree of pain; and the third is they don’t feel connected to others.
It’s this lack of connection – or lack of belonging – that RU OK Day wants to prevent.
By encouraging people to take the time to ask “Are you OK?” and listen, they can help people who are struggling with life feel connected long before they even think about suicide.
It all comes down to regular, face-to-face, meaningful conversations about life.
And asking “Are you OK?” is a good place to start.
RU OK Day have prepared a simple, easy-to-use guide about how to ask others if they’re OK and how to respond when they answer, and it can found on their website
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Kingaroy’s RU OK Day breakfast will be held in the Glendon Street Town Hall forecourt between 8:00am and 10:00am, while Nanango’s will be held will be in the IGA Supermarket car park in Fitzroy Street.
In Cherbourg, a suicide prevention awareness march will leave from the US Mob radio station building in Barambah Avenue at 10:00am and make its way along Fisher, Bell and Broadway Streets before finishing at the C.R.A.I.C.C.H.S. Medical Centre, where it will be followed by a community barbecue lunch.
Everyone is invited to attend any of these three functions, whether they are struggling with a mental health issue themselves, know someone who is, or just would like to enjoy a free breakfast or lunch.
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If you or someone you know needs help, call:
- Lifeline on 13-11-14
- Kids Helpline on 1800-551-800
- MensLine Australia on 1300-789-978
- Suicide Call Back Service on 1300-659-467
- Beyond Blue on 1300-224-636
Related articles:
- Sharing A Cuppa Is Good Medicine (2016)
- A Question For Every Day … RU OK? (2015)
- Did You Ask The Question? (2014)
- A Simple Message To Save A Life (2013)
- Question Could Save A Life (2012)
