R U OK Day & Perth Businesses

How can I help?

R U OK Day is a national day of action in Australia that encourages everyone to ask someone they care about, “Are you OK?”. It is held on the second Thursday of September each year. The theme for R U OK Day 2023 is “I’m here to hear.” Listed below are some easy ways to participate.

As a Perth-based business, you can play an important role in raising awareness of mental health and suicide prevention in your workplace (we talked about Employee Mental Health in another post).

Below are some activities and things you can do for R U OK Day in Perth, Western Australia:

Hold a workplace conversation about mental health. 

This could be a formal presentation or a more informal discussion.

The goal is to create a space in your business where people feel comfortable talking about their mental health and to dispel the stigma associated with mental illness. You can find a bunch of resources and inspiration for a talk at https://www.ruok.org.au/.

Distribute R U OK Day resources. 

This could include posters, flyers, or brochures.

We can find these resources and others on the R U OK Day website. The resources will provide information about mental health and suicide prevention.

Offer free or discounted massages to employees. 

This is a great way to show your employees that you care about their well-being and to help them relax and de-stress.

Naturally, massage is what we’re about here at PCM. Even if you don’t use our services, we believe that most Perth businesses can implement some of the ideas for R U OK Day in Perth.

Host a mental health first aid workshop. 

This will teach your employees how to identify the signs of mental health problems and how to offer support to someone who is struggling – or just on R U OK Day.

Here is an example of a thoughtful and caring approach Perth business owners could employ when addressing issues or problems arising into workplace:

• The ALGEE Action Plan: 
  • This is a five-step action plan that can be used to help someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis.
    • The steps are:
      • Ask
        • Ask the person if they are thinking about suicide or self-harm.
      • Listen:
        • Listen without judgement, with empathy.
      • Guarantee safety:
        • Ensure the person is safe from harm.
      • Encourage help-seeking:
        • Help the person connect with professional help.
      • End by offering hope:
        • Let the person know that they are not alone and that there is help available.

Sometimes these issues might reveal. Themselves as personal problems or personality clashes, when really something deeper may be at play.

Donate to a mental health charity in Perth

This is a great way to show your support for the cause on R U OK Day and to help make a difference in the lives of people who are struggling with mental health problems.

Perth-based Mental Health Charities

• Beyond Blue provides evidence-based information and support to help people affected by depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. They offer a range of services, including:
  • Online resources and support tools
  • Telephone and online counselling
  • Support groups www.beyondblue.org.au
    • Beyond Blue Perth mental health charity 
• Lifeline is a national 24-hour crisis support service that provides telephone counselling, online chat, and text support.
  • They also offer face-to-face crisis support in some locations.
    • Support group www.lifeline.org.au
      • Lifeline Perth mental health charity 
• Headspace is a national youth mental health service that provides early intervention and support for young people aged 12-25. They offer a range of services, including:
  • In-person and online counselling
  • Group programs
  • Peer support
    • Family support headspace.org.au
    • Headspace Perth mental health charity 
• Carers WA provides support to carers of people with mental illness or disability. They offer a range of services, including:
  • Information and support
  • Advocacy
  • Training
  • Respite care www.carerswa.asn.au
  • Carers WA Perth mental health charity 
• WAAMH is the peak body for mental health in Western Australia.
  • They advocate for the rights of people with mental illness and their families, and provide information and support services.
    •  www.sirensofsilence.org.au
    • WAAMH Perth mental health charity 
• Youth Focus provides mental health support to young people aged 12-25 in Western Australia. They offer a range of services, including:
  • In-person and online counselling
  • Group programs
  • Peer support
  • Housing support 
    • youthfocus.com.au
    • Youth Focus Perth mental health charity 

R U Ok? Video about helping others (with discretion and respect).

When your business helps it’s staff, we all benefit

By taking these steps, you can help to create a more mentally healthy workplace and make a difference in the lives of some employees who are struggling with life.

Just one thoughtful conversation could change a life.

Useful articles on this site:

• Creating a Culture of Wellness: The Power of Corporate Massage Programs in Perth
• Workplace Burnout: Incorporating Corporate Massage in Perth Offices & Workplaces

Here are some additional resources that you may find helpful:

• R U OK Day website: https://www.ruok.org.au/
• Western Australian Association for Mental Health: https://waamh.org.au/
• Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
• Lifeline: https://www.lifeline.org.au/