2020 hasn’t been an easy year for many Aussie households and businesses, which makes today an important one to check in on one another.

COVID-19 and associated lockdowns have placed all sorts of new pressures on families and businesses across the country

More than 1.5 million Australians are currently suffering from mortgage stress – the equivalent of 40% of households.

With today marking R U OK? Day, we encourage everyone we wanted to check in on friends, family, neighbours and colleagues; they may need someone to listen them right now

There’s more to say after R U OK?

This year the key R U OK? message is “there’s more to say after R U OK?”

Simply asking someone R U OK? without genuine thought, care and time can risk coming across as a platitude

The team at R U OK? have compiled a handy list of tips and more subtle questions you can ask instead, as well as a series of follow-up questions.

The tips include making sure you’re in a good headspace yourself – relaxed, ready to listen, and with ample time to give – while also being in a comfortable  and private space

Suggested questions include simply asking “How are you going?”, “What’s been happening?”, or “You seem less chatty than usual. How are you going?”.

R U OK? encourages you not to rush the person, and show that you’ve listened by repeating back what you’ve heard (in your own words), and asking if you’ve understood them properly.

You can then follow-up with questions such as “How would you like me to support you?”, or “What’s something you can do for yourself right now? Something that’s enjoyable or relaxing?”.

And importantly, don’t just ask them on R U OK? DAY.

Set a reminder in your phone or on your calendar to check in again with them in a couple of weeks or, if they’re really struggling, sooner.

A simple question and a genuine desire to listen could save a life