R U OK? Day

"R U OK?Day is a national day of action on the second Thursday of September (13 September 2012), dedicated to inspiring all people of all backgrounds to regularly ask each other ‘Are you ok?'
By raising awareness about the importance of connection and providing resources throughout the year, the R U OK? Foundation aims to prevent isolation by empowering people to support each other through life's ups and downs."

The first R U OK? Day was in Australia on 29 November 2009. It was announced by the then Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon. Its founder was Gavin Larkin. Larkin was a successful advertising executive, and in his own words "a bit of a prick". His father, Barry, killed himself in 1995. Gavin Larkin came up with the idea of R U OK? Day in 2008, on the thought that a conversation at the right time(s) could help people out of the loneliness and isolation that build to self destroying despair.

February 2010 he was told he had lymphoma. Thereafter he was told his son had a brain tumour.

The third R U OK? Day was on 15 September 2011. Ten percent of adult Australians had the conversation. Gavin Larkin died a few days later feeling he accomplished something.

http://www.ruokday.com/resources-for-you/how-to-ask-r-u-ok/

Last year a national spokesman was the actor, Hugh Jackman.

It is not only a problem in one country. The announcement of depression is an embarrassing admission for many people, in many places, to make. Kept secret, the problem often gets worse. By encouraging others to speak to their friends [more frequent, the better], those friends may receive enough emotional support to carry on.

Now, such despair can be overcome. Current bad times may end. Now, for some that doesn't come; but continual caring conversation can keep them going.

In World War One, battle experiences drove some soldiers mad. The 'talking cure' brought many men back to sanity. That term was first used in 1893 by a patient, Bertha Pappenheim [Anna O.], of Joseph Breuer in Vienna. Breuer was an older colleague of Sigmund Freud.

Simple caring conversation can save friends. Australian ideas have come to America, and elsewhere, before. This is another idea that can travel.