
R U OK?: Be ready to listen and check in
TAKING the time to not only ask, 'are you OK?' but also actively listen was a key part of this year's R U OK? Day message.
Community members gathered in the Kingaroy Town Hall forecourt today for a sausage sizzle breakfast to recognise the day of awareness.
South Burnett Suicide Prevention Group member Danita Potter said this year's theme was all about being aware.
"Trust the signs, trust your gut and ask, are you OK?" she said.
The group wanted to encourage the community to ask the question regularly and not to just save it for one day of the year.
"We need people to ask, but they also need to listen, they need to get help, and then be willing to check up on that person after," Cr Potter said.
STREET POLL: What are some ways you can support others?
She said it was important to remember that even though we may all go through a similiar situation, we all react differently.
"It may affect another person deeply," Cr Potter said.
"We may not really have any idea what that person is going through."
She said asking 'are you OK' was only step one.
"Be prepared to listen and sometimes you might have to ask more than once or in a different way," Cr Potter said.
"It's something we should be taking to heart more."
South Burnett support contacts:
Graham House Community Centre: 4169 8400
Centacare Community Connections: 4169 5439
Community Health Centres open Monday-Friday 8.30am-4.30pm
Cherbourg: 4169 8900
Kingaroy: 4162 9220
Murgon: 4169 8200
Nanango: 4171 6750
Proston: 4168 9288
Wondai: 4169 2622
