It’s a hard question to ask but “Are you OK?” can be the first step in helping a friend to cope with emotional distress or mental illness. It’s R U Ok? Day on 13 September. With suicide the leading cause of death for 15-44 year olds in Australia, R U OK? Day puts the spotlight on suicide prevention and asks us to look out for the mental health and wellbeing of the people we care about.
R U OK? Day, Thursday 13 September 2018
State Library of Queensland invests in the well-being of all Queenslanders through our collections, programs and exhibitions. Explore what well-being means to Queensland in our current exhibition, Lifestyle: a sunshine state of mind.
State Library exhibition, Lifestyle a sunshine state of mind
We encourage you, at any time, to ask a friend, colleague or family member “Are you ok?” Help someone you know to open up and to feel less alone. A big part of mental health is relationships so we support R U OK? Day as a day to celebrate friendship. Start by having open and honest conversations with your friends about mental health. Be an active listener and help to end the stigma that surrounds mental illness.
To get you started with helping a friend in need, State Library has some new books you might like to read. Kate Leaver’s The friendship cure will help you to understand the importance of friendship to people living with anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. You might also like to read Text me when you get home: The evolution and triumph of modern female friendship which examines friendship in the digital age.
Book cover - Text me when you get home
Looking for a movie to watch with your best friend? Get free access to video streaming database, Kanopy, through your State Library membership. You can log in from our One Search catalogue. Watch feel good documentaries, inspiring dramas and offbeat comedies like Iris: A Fashion Icon, That’s Not Me and Paris Can Wait.
Help us support R U OK? Day by talking to your friends about mental health issues. We invite you to be an even better friend and ask the all important question that might save someone’s life: “Are you OK?”
Anne Reddacliff
Librarian, Visitor and Information Services
MORE INFORMATION
https://www.ruok.org.au/how-to-ask
Kanopy – /blog/slq-today/2018/08/16/free-film-streaming-with-kanopy/
One Search catalogue – http://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/
Membership - /services/membership
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