Written by Dr Prathibha Elizabeth Jose
General Practitioner | MBBS, MRCGP, FRACGP
Carrara Family Practice, Carrara, Gold Coast, QLD
Every second Thursday of September, Australia marks R U OK? Day, a national reminder to check in with the people around us. Every year on 10 September, more than seventy countries mark World Suicide Prevention Day.
In 2026, these two important awareness days fall on exactly the same day, Thursday 10 September.
That overlap does not need to feel heavy. If anything, it is a useful nudge. One day, two reminders, and the same underlying message: a genuine conversation can make a real difference, and support is available for anyone who needs it.
What R U OK? Day Actually Asks of You
R U OK? Day is not about becoming a counsellor overnight. It is about taking the time to notice when someone may not be themselves and starting a genuine conversation.
The R U OK? approach can be remembered through four simple steps:
1. Ask
Notice when someone does not seem like themselves and ask them directly. Choose a time and place where you both have enough privacy and time to talk properly.
A simple, genuine question can be a good place to start.
2. Listen
Give them space to answer without immediately trying to fix the situation or compare their experience with your own.
You do not need to have all the answers. Sometimes, being heard and knowing that someone genuinely cares can be an important first step.
3. Encourage Action
If someone is struggling, encourage them to consider what support might help.
This could mean speaking with their GP, psychologist, counsellor, trusted family member or friend. You do not need to solve everything yourself. Helping someone take the next step can be enough.
4. Check In
Follow up with them later.
One conversation rarely resolves everything. Letting someone know that you remembered to ask and that you continue to care can be just as important as the initial conversation.
A Conversation Does Not Need to Be Perfect
Many people hesitate to ask someone if they are okay because they are worried about saying the wrong thing or making the situation worse.
You do not need to find the perfect words.
What matters is approaching the conversation with genuine concern, listening without judgement and being willing to stay connected.
Sometimes, simply asking someone how they are really going can open the door to a conversation they may have been needing to have.
If Someone Tells You They Are Not Okay
Take what they say seriously, while remembering that you do not have to solve everything in one conversation.
Listen to them and encourage them to seek appropriate support. You might gently ask whether they have spoken with anyone else about how they are feeling, or suggest speaking with their GP or a mental health professional.
Let them know that you are glad they told you.
If you are concerned that someone may be in immediate danger, do not try to manage the situation alone. Call 000 for emergency assistance.
When Is It Time to Involve a GP?
If low mood, anxiety, stress or difficulty coping has been continuing for more than a couple of weeks, it is worth speaking with a GP rather than simply waiting for things to improve on their own.
A GP can talk through what you are experiencing, assess your individual circumstances and discuss appropriate support options.
Where clinically appropriate, a GP may also discuss a Mental Health Treatment Plan, which can help eligible patients access Medicare-subsidised mental health services.
You do not have to wait until things become overwhelming before seeking help.
This also applies if you are concerned about someone you care about. Sometimes, helping a family member or friend make an appointment and taking that first step with them can make seeking support feel easier.
Support Is Available, Today and Every Day
If you or someone you know needs support, help is available.
Lifeline
13 11 14
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Suicide Call Back Service
1300 659 467
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
13YARN
13 92 76
24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
In an emergency: Call 000.
Book a Mental Health Consultation at Carrara Family Practice
If this September’s conversation brings something up for you, or for someone you care about, you do not have to navigate it alone.
The team at Carrara Family Practice provides GP care and support for a range of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, stress and difficulties coping.
Speaking with a GP can be a helpful first step towards understanding what you are experiencing and exploring appropriate support.