Free morning cuppas spark R U OK? Day conversations

Free cuppas sparked conversations on mental health for R U OK? Day across the shire last week.

Local not-for-profit organisation HealthWISE sponsored cafes across the region to provide free coffees during the morning rush last Thursday.

Participating cafes in the shire were Coogle Café, Narrabri, Bluebird Café, Boggabri, and House on Rose, Wee Waa, on Thursday, September 14.

R U OK? Day is a national initiative which reminds Australians to check in on friends and family.

Customers were also offered R U OK? Day resources on starting conversations about mental health.

Coogle Café participated in the initiative for the fourth year in a row.

“We are a small town that has been significantly impacted by suicide and mental health issues in recent years,” owner Matt Fife said.

“R U OK? day is an important reminder for us all to check in with friends, family, co-workers and ourselves.”

HealthWISE mental health team leader Tanya Hague recognised that it can be daunting to ask a loved one if they’re ok, especially if the answer is no. She said you don’t need to be a health professional to help someone who’s struggling, and it can be as simple as lending an ear.

“You can absolutely save someone’s life just by listening. Just being there with them, showing them that you care, maybe offering to sit down and have a cup of tea with them,” she said.

“It is really important to genuinely listen to the person and give them your full attention. Be prepared, because it may be a long conversation,” she said.

Tanya recommended visiting the R U OK? Day website to learn more about how to respond when someone tells you they are not ok. HealthWISE also runs free Touchpoints workshops, which educate community members on recognising and responding to people at risk of suicide.

HealthWISE also supported emergency workers with coffee vouchers and targeted mental health resources, as part of ‘Are They Triple OK?’.

The companion campaign was developed by R U OK? in response to research by Beyond Blue which found that police and emergency service workers report suicidal thoughts more than twice as often as the general population.

“As part of the HealthWISE Recover, Adapt, Connect Black Summer Bushfires program, we’re working with people around preparedness for natural disasters, and first responders are front and centre in that,” Recover, Adapt, Connect team leader Susan McGuire said.

“We have also put together a presentation for emergency services around mental health resources that are available to them and their families.”

Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 for 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Always call 000 if a life is in danger.