R U OK Day reminds us of the profound impact a simple question can have over an individual’s life. This is a day dedicated to encouraging meaningful conversations and checking in with those around us - principles that deeply resonates with the work we do at YouthCARE all year round.
In this busy daily life of ours, R U OK Day serves as a crucial reminder to pause and create a genuine connection with others by listening to their answer, looking at their body language and detecting if they need support. It's about fostering a culture of care, compassion, and openness, values that are at the heart of our work in schools and sport communities.
Our YouthCARE and SportsCARE Chaplains play an integral role in supporting the emotional and mental wellbeing of their communities. They are often the first to notice when someone might be feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or in need of a listening ear.
This R U OK Day we joined the student services team at Shenton college with a special edition of Free Coffee Friday for the school staff while their team served breakfast for the students – the morning was full of games, smiles and chats highlighting the importance of checking in with those around us.
Four of our YouthCARE Chaplains support the wellbeing of their school community at Shenton College as a part of their student services team, who service almost 3000 students across the grounds.
Here are four tips on how to ask someone if they are ok:
1. ASK R U OK?
2. LISTEN WITH AN OPEN MIND
3. ENCOURAGE ACTION
4. CHECK IN
For more information and resources, visit https://www.ruok.org.au/how-to-ask
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