It's not okay

R U OK? is a suicide prevention charity in Australia, encouraging all of us to notice the signs of mental health struggle in friends, family, and colleagues

I've never really understood why Australians need a marketing campaign to ask people about well-being on one specific day of the year.

This year I noticed the graphic had inserted the word "really" into the message and it seemed like an acknowledgment that the idea had become tired.

I think it can be retired in 2021 because it's not okay.

One fundamental issue with asking the question is whether a person is ready to hear an answer other than the default "I'm fine."

Are you okay with having a person unburden themselves then and there with whatever issues they have been bottling up all year?

Are you okay with hearing that someone you know has been considering self-harm?

Are you okay with looking like you need some script to relate to other people?

Living in regional Australia it's clear there's a shortage of services to address mental health concerns.

R U OK? seems to highlight the gap between people in the cities who develop these marketing campaigns and those in the country who have to make a commitment to drive somewhere to find a public health facility that actually have staff.