R U OK?Day (Thursday 10 September, 2020) is our national day of action dedicated to reminding everyone that every day is the day to ask, “Are you OK?” and support those struggling with life's ups and downs.

This year's message is 'There's more to say after R U OK?'

A range of circumstances can lead to a young person feeling low, including:

• Big life changes like moving house or school
• Experiencing grief or loss
• Being around people going through tough times
• Being bullied
• Arguing with someone
• Problems with school work
• Being bored
• Having a medical condition or chronic illness
• Not sleeping well
• Not exercising enough
• Hormonal changes
• Special needs

Be aware of certain behaviours and signs that can indicate a young person might be struggling. The first thing to look out for is changes in behaviour. When people feel low, they often:

• Withdraw from their friends or their family
• Lash out at people and get angry or upset really easily, including towards the people they care about
• Cry or become emotional
• Lose interest in activities and things they usually love Have changed sleeping patterns.
• They might be sleeping all the time, not sleeping much at all, or sleeping at strange hours (such as in the middle of the day)
• Have a changed appetite. They could be eating more than usual, or less.

R U OK? has 4 Conversation Steps to help navigate a conversation when someone says, “No, I’m not OK”. These steps are:

Useful contacts when a young person is not OK:

Guidance Officer

School Chaplain

GP or psychologist

Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800

Lifeline on 13 11 14

Dial 000 if someone’s life is in imminent danger