MCCOURTS Cafe in Millicent will be asking ‘R U OK?’ tomorrow as part of an initiative to break the stigma around mental illness and suicide.
Cafe owner Madi Thwaites said the experiences of a family member living with mental illness spurred her into action for the national initiative, which encourages people to break the silence on their personal challenges.
“R U OK? Day is a good way to make sure that people are okay and last year we had good feedback with people not afraid to say how they felt,” she said.
“It can be worthwhile to talk to someone you know, or even someone you do not know well at all.”
McCourts joins Café Melzar and Metro Café & Bakery in Mount Gambier to take on the challenge of asking their customers ‘are you okay?’, with staff encouraged to wear R U OK? stickers and have contact information on-hand for those in need of support.
McCourts will have R U OK? cups and leaflets with support lines if people want to speak confidentially with a trained professional.
StandBy Support after Suicide Coordinator Tracey Wanganeen extended the invite to cafes across the region to participate in the initiative, stating it was a gentle way of giving customers the encouragement to ask their loved ones, friends and work colleagues ‘R U OK?’.
“For those who have lost a loved one to suicide in the past, it is especially important to offer support and friendship.
“R U OK? Day gives us a great opportunity to connect,” Ms Wanganeen said.
“Some conversations are too big for family and friends to tackle alone and it’s important to take the time to ask and listen.
“We know that regional communities often are quite resilient but also some of our community members need a gentle reminder that it is okay to ask for help and that being tough sometimes comes at a cost.
“Encouraging people to seek help can assist in reducing the stigma of suicide and mental illness in our communities.”
Contact Tracey at StandBy Support After Suicide on 0437 752 458 if you or someone you know requires support.
For additional support contact the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 or Lifeline on 131 114.
