R U OK? Day events occurring across the Gannawarra

R U OK? Day events occurring across the Gannawarra

Published on 11 September 2023

Events will be occurring across the Gannawarra this week to mark R U OK? Day on Thursday, 14 September.

Held annually on the second Thursday in September, R U OK? Day encourages people to stay connected and have conversations that can help others through difficult times in their lives.

“R U OK? Day raises the importance of being alert to those around you - your family, friends, work colleagues and neighbours - and provides some tips on how to have a conversation around mental health and connect someone to appropriate support where needed,” Gannawarra Shire Council Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Rollinson said.

“This message is extremely important following the past few years we have experienced. Major events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the October-December 2022 floods and ongoing economic pressures have placed additional stresses on people, and it’s important that we stay connected and look out for others.”

As part of efforts to promote R U OK? Day, Council, together with Northern District Community Health, Kerang District Health, headspace and local neighbourhood houses at Kerang, Cohuna and Quambatook, will be supporting various events and activities across the Gannawarra. These include:

Community morning teas at the Cohuna Neighbourhood House and Kerang Neighbourhood House on Thursday, 14 September from 10am; Swan Hill headspace and Northern District Community Health team members will join Kerang Technical High School students for a barbecue on Thursday, 14 September, which will provide the opportunity for students to talk over lunch; Northern District Community Health will run its popular ‘The Man Cave’ and ‘Flourish Girl’ Year 9 workshops at Cohuna Secondary College on Thursday, 14 September; Numerous Quambatook events and community gatherings will benefit on Wednesday, 13 September and Friday, 15 September by receiving information packs and R U OK? Day-themed biscuits and cupcakes; and Northern District Community Health will be running activities that promote good mental health during the Sir John Gorton Library 20th birthday celebration, occurring on Friday, 15 September from 3pm-6pm.  

“These events and initiatives will enable those in attendance to learn more about the skills you can develop to ask ‘are you okay’ in a safe and supported way,” Mr Rollinson said.

Northern District Community Health will also be promoting R U OK? Day messaging via its Facebook page, with the FReeZA and Engage programs to release a new flipside publication for local youth, focusing on mental health messaging.

“We know that the sooner we can support young people and build resilience and capacity to manage their mental health, the better the impact on their mental health later in life. R U OK? Day is a great opportunity to start this conversation,” Northern District Community Health Chief Executive Officer, Mandy Hutchinson said.

If you are concerned about your mental health or the mental health of a family member, friend or colleague, Lifeline (13 11 14) and Beyond Blue (1300 227 636) are available 24 hours per day. In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).

To learn more about how to ask R U OK? and what to say when someone says they are not okay, please visit www.ruok.org.au/how-to-ask