Today, our staff acknowledged RUOK? Day with an afternoon tea, creating a space for us to pause and connect over important conversations about our wellbeing.

This year's theme, ‘RUOK? AnyDay, because life happens every day,’ highlights the need to extend our support beyond this national awareness day and continue checking in with friends, family, and colleagues throughout the year.

It’s crucial to recognise that someone you know, maybe even someone sitting next to you right now, might not be okay. While noticing that someone may be struggling can be difficult, asking "RUOK?" can open the door and allow someone to feel safe to express how they are feeling. Knowing how to respond to someone who opens up, or where to seek help, can be challenging. RUOK? have a range of resources available on their website designed to help with how to ask the question in a variety of situations, and what to say or do if the answer is ‘no’.

We also fund a range of services throughout the region that can help provide essential wellbeing and mental health support for those in need. Our My Health Connector website helps older people in our community to increase their social connections and reduce loneliness, improving overall wellbeing and quality of life. Our Expressive Therapy programs use creative processes such as art, drama, dance and movement as a therapeutic way to improve an individual's overall wellbeing, including their mental health. Expressive therapies not only enhance the emotional and physical wellbeing of individuals, but they can also improve self-esteem and provide a range of other benefits.

For those who need additional support, services such as headspace, Head to Health, Psychological Therapy Services, and the free Head to Health Phoneline on 1800 595 212 are available across the region. More information on these services, and how to access them, is on our website.

Just like it’s important to maintain our physical wellbeing, it’s also important to maintain our mental wellbeing. We all have ups and downs, and sometimes life’s challenges can become overwhelming. Even though conversations about wellbeing are now more mainstream, there are still those who feel alone. Let’s keep the conversation going and continue to offer support to each other beyond today.