R U OK? Day | Terrace Advocacy Group
This week at the College, we acknowledged R U OK? Day with a special welcoming event led by the Terrace Advocacy Group.
When arriving at school this morning, students were greeted by a friendly ‘Welcome Committee’ that included the College Captain, Vice Captains, members of the Terrace Advocacy Group and several additional volunteers – all dressed in bright yellow R U OK? t-shirts and surrounded by an archway of balloons! With a free sausage sizzle and live music to enjoy, boys were encouraged to stay and connect. The committee did a fantastic job in welcoming each student with a smile, conducting meaningful ‘R U OK?’ check-ins, and facilitating positive conversations with their peers.
R U OK? Day is a nationally recognised initiative that focuses on suicide prevention and encourages people to reach out and support others who may be struggling. For our students, learning how to support their peers in an empowering and non-judgemental way is an important life lesson. Developing a safe and supportive learning environment for all members of the Terrace community aligns directly with the charism of the Blessed Edmund Rice.
The R U OK? Day campaign is built upon a four-step model:
- Ask the person how they’re going
- Listen without judgement
- Encourage the person to take action, such as seeking support from a mental health professional, and
- Check-in with the person by following up with them at a later time
Building on the efforts of previous years, the Terrace Advocacy Group has continued to focus on destigmatising men’s mental health within our College community. By hosting events such as R U OK? Day, the group aims to promote the values of openness and wellbeing for all.
As a day of action, R U OK? Day reminds us that a conversation on any day can change a life. By having regular, meaningful check-ins with your friends, family, colleagues and peers, you build trust and normalise talking about what’s really going on, so when the people in your world find themselves struggling, they know you’re someone they can talk to.
