Another year, another RUOK day!

While the push for mental health as an industry is helping improve understanding and slowly destroy the stigma surrounding it, there is still a way to go.
From corporate culture to individuals’ priorities, we need to be reminded that our mental health is just as important as our physical health.
And RUOK day serves as a great reminder of that.

Most of us can admit our mental health is not the priority it should be. But RUOK day isn’t
specifically focused on ‘my’ mental health, but rather checking in with friends and colleagues.
Sounds great in theory; but what happens when someone responds with “I’m not OK”?
The common response of “I’m alright” or “living the dream”, quite frequently are used as a cover to avoid the honest response. But if someone actually has the trust and connection with you, and they admit “I am not OK”, what do you do with this information?

We aren’t all trained counsellors, psychologists, mental health first aid responders.
First of all, we need to remove this concept of “I have to fix the problem”. This is almost never the
correct response. They have not opened up to you hoping you can fix their problems.
They are looking for connection. Not solutions. Certainly not comparable stories. Please don’t negate their story or shift the focus away from them with a complaint of your own.
Just listen. Provide some comfort. Verbal or physical depending on the circumstance. Be present
(put your phone down!) If used correctly, silence can be a powerful tool to support someone.

RUOK day isn’t about fixing other peoples problems. It’s about offering support, reminding people they are not alone, and if they feel their resilience is low, that they have good people surrounding them who can help them get back up.