RUOK?

We call Australia the lucky country. Many people from other countries envy our lifestyle, our freedoms and our tolerant, easygoing attitude. But about 2000 Australians choose to die each year. One out of every five Australians will suffer clinical depression during their lifetime. And in any one year, about the same number suffer anxiety symptoms serious enough to be diagnosed as a disorder—20 per cent of adolescents report high or very high levels of psychological distress. Anxiety, in this lucky country, appears to be on the rise. So, the chance is high that in any one week you will meet somebody who is not OK. Today is RUOK day. Why not put the welfare of your family and friends first today by asking, ‘Are you OK?’