UniSC Clinical Trials

Be prepared on how to respond, if someone is not ok.

RUOK has always been close to my heart. You see some years ago a close friend committed suicide. 

This was a person who was always ready to help and talk others through their problems. Someone who took on the role of “Mum” in the friends group. A girl who had a passion for singing, was never shy, and her smile could light up any room. 

One memory that always comes to mind is the last chat we had.

I talked about how I was feeling drained, how work is being a pain in my butt, and how i didn't agree with the most recent episode of Home & Away.
Little did I know how she was feeling inside, but she still listened and guided me through my issues.

The world lost that beautiful smile of hers, less than a week later.

RUOK day was held a few weeks after the tragic event..

This led Myself and my friends to promise to always check in with those around us. 

Fast forward to a couple years ago, to a new friend who worked in our local pub every Friday. 

Like clockwork, every Friday night we would arrive at 10pm, share banter and share a drink with this amazing bloke.He was real rough looking with lots of tattoos, a great personality and always gave us boys free drinks.

One night after some beers, I caught him in the alley after his shift, having a cigarette. I was about to get in a Taxi, but I decided to walk on over and have a yarn with the gentle giant before heading home.

5 or 10 minutes passed in conversation, I don’t remember seeing a tell tale sign that things where wrong. But I remembered back to the promise us mates made about checking on people around us.

So I paused and asked, “just checking, are you doing okay mate?” To my shock, his reply was not what i expected. He had planned to end his life later that night.

Nothing could have prepared me for the conversation I had that night, it’s hard to remember. But mostly I just sat there and listened. Offering what advice I could. 

I’ve been told many of times since by this bloke, that asking if he was okay saved his life. He is now married, happy and has a little girl on the way.

This is why it is so important to check in with others, to take the first step and ask Are you Okay? 
But don't stop there, be prepared and know how to assist someone who is in a dark spot. 

So if that unfortunate time comes when someone is not okay, we are equipped with the knowledge to help.