R U OK? Day 2023: How to support your colleagues and friends’ wellbeing year-round

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R U OK? Day 2023: How to support your colleagues and friends’ wellbeing year-round

Thursday, 14 September 2023

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Edith Cowan University’s (ECU) School of Business and Law (SBL) faculty came together over morning tea on Thursday, 14 September to celebrate one of the most prominent days on Australia’s mental health calendar: R U OK? Day.

R U OK? Day aims to inspire and empower everyone to meaningfully connect with the people around them and start a conversation with those in their world who may be struggling with life’s various challenges.

The event — which featured scones, tea, coffee, and R U OK?-branded KitKats — saw SBL staff donate more than $200 to the national mental health charity.

In a world filled with academic and professional pressures, the event served as a powerful reminder that one simple question could make a profound difference in someone's life.

SBL’s Associate Dean of Management Professor Irene de Pater noted it was essential to offer support to colleagues and friends year-round.

“Ask how they are doing or if there’s anything you can do to help. Listen to them, and try and spend some time together,” she said.

She acknowledged there were still a number of barriers that discouraged people from speaking up about experiencing mental health issues.

“Keeping face, not wanting to be seen as ‘weak’, fear of being stigmatised, and insecurity are all reasons someone might not speak up about what they’re experiencing,” she said.

Professor de Pater – whose key research areas include interpersonal work behaviour, leadership, and challenging work experiences – highlighted some common signs of poor mental wellbeing that people should watch out for in their colleagues or friends.

“If there has been a change in work behaviours and attitudes, that is a significant sign,” she said.

“There’s also changes in emotional expression or mood and emotions, and coming into the office less than normal.”

Managers and team leaders also played a vital role in fostering an organisational culture that supported employees’ mental wellbeing, Professor de Pater pointed out.

“Leaders need to be present, fair, and supportive. They need to make time for people, and address not only good behaviours, but bad ones too,” she said.

“If there was one message people could take away from this year’s R U OK? Day, it would be, ‘Together, we’re strong’.”

Anyone experiencing a crisis can call the below helplines for support and advice:

Lifeline 13 11 14 | Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 | Beyond Blue 1300 224 636

School of Business and Law