R U OK? Today

**ＴＲＵＳＴＴＨＥＳＩＧＮＳ，ＴＲＵＳＴＹＯＵＲＧＵＴ **

The theme for this year’s R U OK? Day on 12th September is “trust the signs, trust your gut and ask R U OK?”

There are often signs that indicate that people are struggling emotionally. We don’t always know what to look out for, can lack confidence or be unsure how to respond to a loved one, colleague or someone else when you do pick up something is wrong. In hindsight it can become clearer that there were signs that a person had been struggling and that there are multiple reasons for the struggle. It is the COMBINATION OF SIGNS that become the clues that something is wrong in the here and now. 𝑺𝒐, 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒔? First we need to look at what the person is DOING - how are they behaving?

Mood swings
Keeping to themselves - isolating themselves, going out less often, avoiding mixing with people
Losing interest in things and activities that they usually enjoy
Changes in their physical dress and appearance e.g., taking less effort with clothes or make-up, not showering
Sleeping more or less
Changed online behaviour e.g., social media use - post less, comments with hopeless and helpless themes
Using drugs or consuming (more) alcohol
Giving away possessions
Saying goodbye

What are they SAYING?

Respond with anger or be easily upset
Talk about suicide or “ending it all”
Say that they’re not coping
Express hopelessness about their situation
Talk about feeling trapped or stuck
Express worries about the future
Make comments about being a burden to others What is going on in their LIFE?
Relationship problems
Problems in the family
Job loss or problems at work
Illness - their health or someone they care about
Financial difficulties
Death of a loved one
Traumatic experience If you’re concerned about a loved one, friend or work colleague, trust your gut and ask how they are.