‘Are you okay?’ – 3 Little Words That Can Make a Difference
On Thursday 11th September 2014 thousands of students across Australia will participate in R U OK?Day. How? By taking the time to stop and ask the question “are you ok?” to anyone who might be struggling with life. R U OK?Day is about taking the time to discuss life’s challenges in a positive way through active listening and sensitive questioning.
Whether you’re a teacher looking to inspire students to develop and nurture positive relationships or you’re a student who wants to help your friends cope with stressful times, such as exams, bullying or family pressure – then take part and get involved in R U OK?Day 2014 and start a conversation that counts.
How Can Your School Get Involved in R U OK? Day 2014
Holding an R U OK?Day 2014 event at your school will not only help start meaningful conversations, but can also be a lot of fun.
Inspire Conversations
If you only do one thing on Thursday 11th September 2014, ask the question “are you ok?”. Here are some tips on how to get started:
- Find somewhere to chat that’s private and comfortable. Somewhere where there’ll be no pressure to end the conversation quickly
- Open-ended questions are a great way to start the conversation; for example – “You don’t seem to be your old self, wassup?”
- Be ready to listen without judging what your friend might be going through
- Let your friend know that they’re not alone and you’re there to help
- Encourage your friend to seek help by talking to a school counsellor or teacher
- Sometimes, your friends may not be ready to talk. That’s ok. Just let them know you’re here for them and follow up with them in the near future to see how they’re going
Lesson Plans
R U OK? have developed a tool box of resources, lesson plans and worksheets to assist schools. Download a tool box for your classroom and schedule some activities on Thursday 11th September 2014.
Classroom Tool Boxes Years 7-8 – CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
- Lesson plan 1: Signs that could mean a friend isn’t ok
- By the end of this lesson students will be able to:
- Understand and identify situations where people may not feel ok
- Identify the signs that people may not be ok
- Identify appropriate times to ask ‘are you ok?’
- Lesson plan 2: Asking the question
- By the end of this lesson students will be able to:
- Identify people who need to be asked ‘are you ok?’
- Develop skills to start meaningful conversations
- Understand that further help or assistance may be required beyond an initial conversation
- Lesson plan 3: Where can you seek help when a classmate needs it?
- By the end of this lesson students will be able to:
- Identify and describe the benefits of seeking help
- Identify people and organisations they can seek help from if someone they know isn’t ok
- Recall knowledge of issues that young people face that may be detrimental to their health
- Lesson plan 4: Creating conversations
- By the end of this lesson students will be able to:
- Work effectively as a member of a small group and report to a larger student body
- Develop a school initiative which promotes meaningful conversations
- Develop skills in event organisation and management
Classroom Tool Boxes Years 9-12 – CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
- Lesson plan 1: Signs that could mean a friend isn’t ok
- By the end of this lesson students will be able to:
- Understand and identify situations where people may not feel ok
- Identify the signs that people may not be ok
- Identify appropriate times to ask ‘are you ok?’
- Lesson plan 2: Asking the question
- By the end of this lesson students will be able to:
- Identify people who need to be asked ‘are you ok?’
- Develop skills to start meaningful conversations
- Understand that further help or assistance may be required beyond an initial conversation
- Lesson plan 3: Where can you seek help when a classmate needs it?
- By the end of this lesson students will be able to:
- Identify and describe the benefits of seeking help
- Identify people and organisations they can seek help from if someone they know isn’t ok
- Recall knowledge of issues that young people face that may be detrimental to their health
- Lesson plan 4: Creating conversations
- By the end of this lesson students will be able to:
- Work effectively as a member of a small group and report to a larger student body
- Develop a school initiative which promotes meaningful conversations
- Develop skills in event organisation and management
Fundraising
Another great way to get involved in R U OK?Day 2014 is to organise a fundraising event at your school. Below are some ideas, but you will also find a R U OK?Day Planning Sheet in the R U OK? Classroom Tool Boxes which can be downloaded by clicking here.
- Replicate ‘R U OK?’ or a question mark in a creative way and hold an art exhibition
- Host a food stall and invite people to bring a dish to share (you could also challenge people to only bring orange and yellow food or food in the shape of a question mark)
- Get the entire school population to gather and form a human sign that spells out the words R U OK?
- Hold an auction, garage sale, bingo or trivia event
- Get everyone to write down what makes them happy and then pin them to an inspiration board
- Charge students to dress in casual clothes or fancy dress for the day
- Charge the teachers to wash their cars, tidy up the classroom, bake them a cake etc.
- Hold a school-wide yoga or meditation class
- Have a fun run or walk
- Hold a ‘farmers market’ and sell a range of fresh produce for recess
The ideas are endless! To find out more about hosting a fundraising event at your school, click here.
Asking R U OK? All Year Round
R U OK? Day 2014 is a timely reminder to check in on your friends and family, but it is also a reminder to regularly and meaningfully ask your friends and family “are you ok?”. The R U OK? website has some great resources, click on the below links to find out more:
Brainstorm Productions also have a range of programs to help with student wellbeing. Click here to view our High School productions.
About R U OK?
R U OK? is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to encouraging and empowering all people to ask “are you ok?” of anyone struggling with life. Our vision is a world where everyone is connected and is protected from suicide. This year, R U OK?Day is Thursday 11th September.
Find out more: www.ruok.org.au
