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Just simple question that might help, even save life

“ARE you okay?” This simple question could be the thing that makes someone recognise that they need help and could even save their life.

Effie Nicol, Finance Manager at Yellow Brick Road Earlwood, says too many people suffer in silence with mental illness.
“Which is why we all need to look out for the signs that someone is not doing well,” she said.
Think about the people you interact with every day. Has their behaviour changed lately? Do they have less energy? Do they seem distracted? Are they making negative statements?
Effie said make today the day you ask them, “Are you okay?”
“I’m a big believer in looking out for the local community. Which is why I have thrown my support behind RUOK Day,” she said.
“When it comes to mental illness, we don’t always see the signs in ourselves.”
If we wake up every morning feeling tired, we probably say we’re just a bit run down. If we get upset easily, we probably just say we’re feeling a bit emotional. When it seems like every day at work is hard, we think we’re just stressed out and need a holiday.
These are actually all signs that something else could be wrong, and we need a little bit more than a day off.
“That’s why we have RUOK Day – to remind us to help each other out by asking that simple question,” Effie said.
“By asking the question, you let the other person know that you’ve also noticed the signs. You help them to see that it’s not all in their own head. You give permission to the other person to share the things that are bothering them.”
If you or someone you know is in need of help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.