Thursday, September 15, 2011

RU OK?



It’s a national day of action which aims to prevent suicide by encouraging Australians to connect with someone they care about and help stop little problems turning into big ones.
On that day we want everyone across the country, from all backgrounds and walks of life, to ask family, friends and colleagues: "Are you OK?".
Staying connected with others is crucial to our general health and wellbeing. Feeling isolated or hopeless can contribute to depression and other mental illnesses, which can ultimately result in suicide. Regular, meaningful conversations can protect those we know and love.
It's so simple. In the time it takes to have a coffee, you can start a conversation that could change a life.
Everybody feels sad or 'down' from time to time. It is a normal reaction to unpleasant or upsetting events. Usually within a few days or a couple of weeks, we start to feel better and our mood returns to normal.
Clinical depression is different. People experiencing clinical depression have lost the ability to function as they normally would in their home life or at work. They often find that strategies they normally use to lift their mood don’t work. This loss of energy and low mood makes it hard to cope with day-to-day life and can also put pressure on relationships.

Clinical depression is a serious illness and will often require professional help from a doctor.

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses experienced by Australians and research tells us that one in five Australians will experience depression in their lifetime. Moreover, 4 per cent of us will experience a major depressive illness in a 12-month period.

Clinical depression is nothing to be ashamed of and it is always worthwhile to ask for help if you think you might have clinical depression.



I may not see you in person but I am asking RUOK?
I am some days and not others, but this is all about you

Some links to help, please have a look at your leisure,  you just may find out how many of you are out there! You are not alone, there are lots of us.



Just a few of them. there is help out there, so hug someone and ask someone RUOK



The Flannel Flower, an Australian native, is a national symbol to promote awareness of mental health.
Flannel flower is commonly found growing wild in the Australian bush, which has a wonderful inherent beauty and strength and is known for its extremes of weather and landscape.
To survive the extremes of Australia's climate the Flannel Flower has had to be adaptable, in the same way all of us, regardless of our life circumstances, need to develop resilience and the ability to adapt to change, in order to strengthen and maintain our mental health.
The Flannel Flower, with its soft silky texture, encourages contact and is thought to help people express their feelings verbally and to develop sensitivity.
Being open and empathetic to a person's expression of distress can help not only the recovery of a person experiencing mental illness, but to change the negative attitudes of our society to mental illness.

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