Today is RUOK? Day, a national campaign that encourages and equips people to regularly and meaningfully ask each other “are you ok?”
As you would appreciate, suicide prevention is an enormously complex and sensitive challenge, however we do know there is power in that simplest of questions - “Are you ok?”. By inspiring people to take the time to ask and to really listen, to have regular, face-to-face conversations with people, we can help those struggling with life feel connected long before they even think about suicide.
Asking “are you ok?” is a great place to start to help - if you think life is getting a bit tough or stressful for someone you know, if a friend or family member is really struggling, then please remember to ask RUOK?
At school today the message of RUOK? Day was shared with HCC students to raise awareness of the campaign. Students watched a short video during HTG specifically aimed at young people, and participated in a short activity to help them realise strengths/weaknesses/opportunities/threats of using social media for communicating and also about the dangers of mixed meanings when we use text messages to ensure we are helping and not hurting. Around the campus I also positioned strategic ‘Conversation corners’ to encourage them to start a conversation with someone today.
I really hope that the students gained some insight today into the importance of staying connected.
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