According to the Central Coast Council, nearly half of all Australians (45 per cent) will experience some kind of mental health illness during their lifetime, while YouGov research this year showed that 72 per cent of Australians reported feeling elevated levels of distress.
Jess Downey, headspace Tamworth community engagement and development officer told The Northern Daily Leader that asking "R U OK?" might seem trivial, but could have a huge impact on ensuring someone facing difficulties feels seen.
Downey said: "It could be one of the most important things in day-to-day life, and it only takes a couple of seconds to do.
The mental health expert noted that conversations on mental health, particularly for young people, are being seen as less 'taboo'. "When R U OK? Day first started [mental health] was not necessarily something that was taken as seriously as it is now," she noted.
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