Like good friends, some things are just better together. The support of a good mate can help someone feel connected and supported as they navigate life's ups and downs.
This can include exam and study pressure, financial stress, mental ill-health and navigating relationships. We all want to be there for our friends when they're struggling, but sometimes it can be tricky to know what to say and do.
That's why we've put together these resources, to help you #FriendBetter and know how to have those important conversations.
R U OK? is calling on young apprentices to 'Be a mate, it's worth it' because when we're going through tough times, it's mates who are best placed to understand and lend support.
These free resources encourage trainees and apprentices to foster supportive friendships by regularly checking in with their mates and paying attention to any signs that might indicate a mate is struggling.
When we make the time to build strong friendships it creates a foundation to rely on as we move through life to help everyone feel more connected and supported.
R U OK? is calling on members of our LGBTIQ+ communities and their allies to, ‘Unite every day,
ask R U OK?’.
Everyone goes through tough times in life when we need support and our LGBTIQ+ friends sometimes have to deal with added challenges. An R U OK? conversation can make a difference when someone is struggling and you don’t have to be an expert to show you genuinely care.
We can all play a role in supporting our friends by being a safe, welcoming space for them to turn to for support and for you to genuinely engage with them in an R U OK? conversation.
In this video, young R U OK? ambassadors share their tips for connecting with friends, classmates and family and how they ask, "are you OK?'.
Students are well-positioned to notice changes in a peer's behaviour that might indicate they’re going through a tough time. The 'Testing Times' resources encourage them to trust their gut instinct when they notice these changes and prioritise checking in with the peer they're concerned about, especially around exam time.
R U OK? has released a series of digital resources to help encourage more important conversations and checking in with those who might be struggling around exam time. These can be shared on your social media accounts, by email or in group chats. To download an image, right-click it and select 'Save Image As'.
Everyone plays a role in creating a culture where people feel connected and supported. The R U OK? at Work resources can be used to help empower employees and employers to ask, "are you OK?", and have regular meaningful conversations in the workplace.
There are so many ways to get involved with R U OK? and help us start more life-changing conversations.
Our interactive Guide to Supporting R U OK? has everything you need including tips, ideas, activities and resources to help you:
To access the Guide to Supporting R U OK?, click
here.
R U OK? encourages people to stay connected and have conversations that can help others through life’s ups and downs. Our work focuses on building the motivation, confidence and skills of the help-giver – the person who can have a meaningful conversation with someone who is struggling with life. To learn more about what we do, and the impact we have, check out our About Us page.
Sign up to our newsletter for conversations tips, news and insights from our staff, experts and supporters.