R U OK Day

[fireheart]

Today in Australia is R U OK day.

http://www.ruokday.com.au/content/home.aspx

This day aims to prevent suicides by encouraging people to connect with friends and family and talking about their issues as well as encouraging someone to get some help.

Suicide has been quoted as claiming more lives in Australia than the road toll, however a suicide toll has not been published due to the fear of copycat suicides.

Given the recent tragedy that has befallen the CS.com forums as well as speaking from personal experience (been suicidal), I thought I would share this with you all and who knows, maybe we can encourage it on the forum or in the US.

[JoitheArtist]

How does one participate? I find it a little confusing, though I love the idea.

[fireheart]

The idea is just to simply sit down with someone who has admitted that they want to die or if they're suicidal and talk with them and make sure that they are OK. Even trying to get them some help if possible. If they don't want to talk, at least let them know that you are concerned about their behaviour

It's more about suicide prevention if anything. Given what happened here recently, I thought I'd share it.

There's an incredible story that was mentioned in that stickied Cracked.com article which shares the same idea around having a talk with someone you trust about what happened. There's this guy who lives not that far from a famous suicide point in NSW. Every time he sees someone about to jump, he stops them, invites them in for a coffee and chat and if possible, he also provides them with information on mental health services.

I won't go into how our mental health system works in Australia since it's Fratching-worthy.

A few of my friends participated today by posting R U OK? on their Facebook or Twitter. I did as well and here's what I wrote:

Today is R U OK day. Please support those who are suicidal or depressed by encouraging them to talk. Talking about suicide and why someone is suicidal is not easy and it can take some time. But even if you can't talk to them, at least ensure that they are OK.

[teh_blumchenkinder]

I'm going to a funeral this month for an uncle I didn't know very well-- he committed suicide. This type of day is a good idea... and like most good idea days, shouldn't just be the one day.

[Rhion]

For sure, it's definitely a good idea to take a moment to consider the wellbeing of those around you.

[BookstoreEscapee]

A coworker's brother 'passed away unexpectedly' recently (a few weeks after Plaidman, actually) and I found out later it was suicide. I don't know him well enough to have asked.

[Seshat]

You don't have to know someone well to be of assistance to them. Just being willing to be an active listener can be enough to ease someone's burdens.

It might be the stranger sitting beside you on a bus.

It might be an over-the-internet chat with someone you know casually from a forum like this one.

It might be a cup of coffee with a casual friend.

You don't have to provide concrete help to make the key difference. Simply listening - genuinely, honestly, listening - can make a vital difference.



While we're on this thread:
To access mental health services in Australia, talk with your GP. Request a referral to a mental health nurse, psychologist or psychiatrist.
Medicare will pay for your mental health treatment if you have a health care card, otherwise it's the usual Medicare-pays-for-some/you-pay-for-some.

Mental health nurses can help you access all services, not just mental health services. Often someone in need of mental health care is also facing life problems; the mental health nurses keep track of what agencies help with what problems, and will help you access them.
They also have the suite of talking therapy techniques, and are capable of doing most talking therapies. They can't prescribe, but they can tell when you need medication and report that to your GP.

Psychologists specialise in talking therapies. There is a wide range of talking therapies, from coping techniques to hypnotic regression. The important thing is to find a therapy - and a psych - who suits you.

Psychiatrists are usually reserved for the most severe cases, or for cases which require medication beyond what a GP should be prescribing. Some psychiatrists specialise in diagnostics, some in particular types of ailment, some in medication, some in talking therapies. And some are generalists.

As fireheart said, the state of mental health care in Australia is a fratching-worthy topic; and it can be harder to access than it should be. BUT, it IS available. And when you get the right care, it IS helpful.

If anyone here needs mental health care in Australia, see your GP. Or talk to me, or (I assume) to fireheart.

Don't give up until you've tried everything. Please.

[fireheart]

If anyone here needs mental health care in Australia, see your GP. Or talk to me, or (I assume) to fireheart.

Don't give up until you've tried everything. Please.

All I can do really is lend an ear and also direct you to phone lines that can be helpful. They're usually confidential and won't intervene except for the usual duty-of-care situations: you've tried to commit suicide, someone is abusing/neglecting you, you've hurt someone else or are seriously thinking of doing so etc.

[Seshat]

In that case, PM me. Or start a thread, if you don't mind it being public, and PM me to ensure I spot the thread.

I have a lot of experience accessing mental health care in Australia.

The lines fireheart mentioned are listed in the front pages of the Telstra phone books, and are an excellent place to start if you need to speak with someone NOW.

You can also access emergency mental health through your nearest ER. There are emergency room psychologists and psychiatrists, and while they will refer you back to your GP for long term care, they are skilled at stabilising you for now.


At any rate... remember that it hurt this community badly to lose Plaidman, and it would hurt us and your local friends to lose you. And remember that there is help out there; and the help is improving all the time.