WHAT WE DO

EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO MEANINGFULLY CONNECT AND LEND SUPPORT

R U OK? is a national suicide prevention charity and registered public health promotion that encourages people to stay connected and have conversations that can help others through difficult times.


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.


R U OK? contributes to suicide prevention efforts by encouraging people to invest more time in their personal relationships and building the capacity of informal support networks – friends, family and colleagues - to be alert to those around them, have a conversation if they identify signs of distress or difficulty and connect someone to appropriate support, long before they're in crisis.

THE R U OK? VISION AND MISSION

People are connected 

People have a sense of belonging, and so are more likely to reach out for help when they are struggling with life. 


People are protected from suicide

People who are struggling with life are supported by the people around them. 


OUR MISSION

Our mission is to inspire and empower people to meaningfully connect with those in their world and lend support when they are struggling with life. 

OUR STORY

R U OK? TALKS TO THE HELP-GIVER

R U OK? contributes to suicide prevention efforts by encouraging  people to invest more time in their personal relationships and building the capacity of informal support networks – friends, family and colleagues - to be alert to those around them, have a conversation if they identify signs of distress or difficulty and connect someone to appropriate support, long before they're in crisis.


We all have a role to play in looking out for those we care about at home, work or in our community. Ask, 'are you OK?' Because a conversation could change a life.

A CONVERSATION FOR ANY STAGE OF LIFE

Life's ups and downs happen to all of us. People can experience things like relationship breakdowns, financial difficulties, health issues or periods of major change at work, home or in life.


The people in your world won’t always tell you if something’s troubling them, so it’s important that you make asking, ‘are you OK?’ a part of your everyday relationships with friends, family, teammates and colleagues. 


The earlier you give someone an opportunity to open up to you, the sooner they can find appropriate support or, if needed,  professional help and the greater the chance that together, you can stop small problems from becoming bigger ones. 

STATISTICS

8.6 people take their lives every day in Australia

Australian Bureau of Statistics. Causes of Death, Australia, 2021

An estimated 65,000 Australians make a suicide attempt every year


Slade et al. 2009

Over 10 million Australian adults know someone who has died by suicide


Suicide Prevention Australia

OUR IMPACT

KNOWLEDGE

  • People aware of R U OK? believe the campaign makes people more willing to ask their friends what’s troubling them. 
  • People aware of R U OK? believe the R U OK? campaign makes people feel more connected. 
  • People aware of R U OK? agree R U OK? campaigns work to reduce the stigma associated with seeking help for mental health issues.

INTENT

  • Those who access R U OK? resources view them favourably with the majority considering them to be trustworthy and useful. 
  • The R U OK? website remains the most commonly accessed resource with its free information and guidance.
  • Those aware of R U OK? understand we offer a set of year-round activities.

ACTION

  • Those who are exposed to the R U OK?Day campaign are up to six times more likely to reach out to someone who might be experiencing personal difficulties compared to those not exposed to the campaign. 
  • We measure how Australians ask the people in their world if they are OK and how they lend support.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

CONTRIBUTING TO SUICIDE PREVENTION

We know that suicide prevention is an enormously complex and sensitive challenge the world over.  One of the most well renowned theories behind preventing suicide is by Dr Thomas Joiner. 1 

 

Following the suicide death of his father, Thomas has dedicated his research to try and answer the question, 'why?'.  His theory tries to answer that complex question by describing three forces at play in someone at risk. One of these forces is a decreased sense of belonging.

 

It's this lack of belonging and sense of connection that we are working to prevent. By educating and encouraging people to take the time to ask, 'are you OK?' in a genuine authentic manner and listen to the reply with an open mind, we can help people struggling with life feel connected and supported long before they think about suicide. Social connections including regular, face-to-face, meaningful conversations about life, are a protective factor against suicide. Asking, 'are you OK?' is a great place to start. Learn How to Ask.

 

Our work is informed by many other experts in the field and contributes to an integrated nationwide approach to suicide prevention.


1 -  Joiner, T.E. (2007) Why People Die By Suicide. Harvard University Press. USA.

HOW IT WORKS

Our research 1 has shown those who are exposed to the R U OK? campaign are up to six times more likely to reach out to someone who might be experiencing personal difficulties, compared to those not exposed to the campaign.


Those who are engaged with R U OK? (accessed resources, interacted on social media, visited the website, engaged with a Community Ambassador or downloaded the workplace toolkit) are also more likely to 2:

  • ask someone face-to-face if something was troubling them
  • listen to someone talk about their problems
  • refer someone who is troubled to a support service


Those on the receiving end of a meaningful R U OK? conversation report feeling supported, heard, safe and better about managing their situation having talked it through with someone who showed genuine interest and concern 3.


An overwhelming majority (90%) of people who are regularly asked R U OK? feel more supported, connected and cared about4.

1  Ross, A.M., Bassilios, B. (2019) Australian R U OK?Day campaign: improving helping beliefs, intentions and behaviours. Int J Ment Health Syst 13, 61
2 Verian (2023) R U OK?  Brand and Communications Tracker

3  Fiftyfive5 (2023) R U OK?Day campaign research, Australia
4 Verian (2024) R U OK? Tracker. Australia

WHERE WE FIT

R U OK? does not provide crisis support or counselling services.


We are a suicide prevention charity and registered public health promotion that aims to start life-changing conversations by encouraging and empowering Australians to reach out to friends, family members and colleagues who might be struggling with life's ups and downs, and ask, 'are you OK?'.


The work of health professionals is vital, and their value cannot be underestimated, however we can all play a role in supporting the people in our world.


When we genuinely ask, ‘are you OK?’ and are prepared to talk to them about how they’re feeling and what’s going on in their life, we can help someone who might be struggling feel connected and supported, long before they’re in crisis.

HOW WE SPEND FUNDS

R U OK? is predominantly funded by corporate sponsorships, community donations and the sale of R U OK? merchandise. Approximately 8% of our funding is from the Australian Government.


R U OK? delivers free resources that increase the willingness and confidence of all Australians to recognise the signs someone is struggling, start a genuine conversation and lend appropriate support. 


R U OK? also tailors these resources to meet the needs of targeted population groups and settings.


These are some examples of our deliverables. You can learn more by clicking the button below.

OUR RESOURCES AND INITIATIVES

OUR 2021-2024 STRATEGIC ROAD MAP

We have a big vision and getting there requires having a strategy to ensure our resources, activities and messaging are effective. This document is the strategic road map for our organisation for 2021-2024.

VIEW OUR STRATEGIC ROAD MAP

READ OUR ANNUAL REPORT

AUTHENTIC CONVERSATIONS

The R U OK? mission is to guide people on when and how to have a meaningful conversation with someone in their world who might be struggling.


To help us develop the most appropriate calls to action and resources, we want to do more to listen to the experiences of those on the receiving end of the question. We listen to and value the voices of those who are struggling and who might be asked, 'are you OK?' by someone they know.


We are committed to influencing positive behaviour change and helping to ensure R U OK? conversations are authentic and respectful.


In this video Phoebe Coupe shares with R U OK? CEO Katherine Newton her experience of an R U OK? conversation.

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