South West schools check in on their mates to ask ‘R U OK?’

Schools across the South West checked in on their classmates and colleagues on Thursday as part of national RUOK Day, an event run by suicide prevention charity RUOK. Australind Senior High School held an RUOK Day event, organised by the student executive team under the guidance of student executive coordinator Narelle Alstad. The day’s celebrations included a sausage sizzle, cupcakes, photo booth, RUOK quizzes, flash mob dancing, yoga, pilates and playdough. “The 2022 theme of ‘no qualifications required’ for checking in on friends resonated greatly with the team, especially as young people are more likely to talk to friends and family first for support,” Ms Alstad said. “Students were encouraged to think of ‘conversation starters’ as a means of checking in on mates if they notice something is not quite right, and placed these questions on display.” Bunbury Primary School used the day as a way to focus on the school’s core values, reinforcing to students and staff the importance of checking in on friends, family and colleagues. “It’s about checking in and making sure people know that you care about them,” deputy principal Franca Dillon said. Mrs Dillon said the school started the day with an announcement to the whole school about being caring, kind and respectful — and not just on RUOK Day — with students then working on smaller class activities throughout the day to reinforce these messages. “If someone is going through hard times, we go out of our way to check on them,” she said of the whole-school approach to looking after each other. “It is an extra important day to ask ‘are you OK?’ and it’s important to take the time to listen and see what you might be able to do to help.”