Isaac Humphries: Why I'm encouraging people to meaningfully connect
Isaac Humphries • 11 September 2023
The recent incident in Sydney has left many feeling distressed and overwhelmed, and you may notice the children in your life are struggling too. News articles, footage and discussion can all contribute to complex emotions such as anxiety, sadness, and anger. The Child Mind Institute has developed a helpful and practical guide to support caregivers in talking to children about traumatic events, the guide includes specific recommendations for multiple age ranges. You can find it here. Events involving violence or serious harm can be especially difficult to discuss with children. This guide can help you provide reassurance and support, helping young people feel safe and process their emotions in a healthy way. Key recommendations include: Help children feel safe . Reassurance, comfort, and extra hugs can restore a sense of security after a distressing event. Stay calm . Children look to adults for reassurance, make time to process your feelings and emotions so you can speak and explain calmly. Maintain routines. Regular activities help children feel that life will return to normal. Encourage play and connection. Spending time with others and engaging in familiar activities can be comforting. Share age-appropriate, honest information. Seek informed information from experts (such as the Mind Child Guide and R U OK? resources ), using these to teach children as a trusted adult, and provide space for them to ask questions. Limit media exposure . News coverage can be overwhelming, especially for younger children. Listen and validate. Be patient and listen to what may be confusing or troubling them. Recognise different reactions. Anger, sadness, guilt, or fear are all normal and valid responses. Acknowledge feelings. Avoid dismissing their worries, feeling heard helps children cope. It’s also OK not to have all the right words; what matters most is being present, listening, and understanding. If you or the children in your care are experiencing ongoing distress, consider speaking with a doctor or another trusted healthcare provider. Free, 24/7 counselling services are available, find contact details here . If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 000. Ask R U OK? Any Day.
This year, Australians continued to grow their confidence and capability to ask, 'are you OK?' any day of the year - reminding us how real connection and meaningful conversations can happen in the most ordinary, everyday moments. Across every age and stage of life, people helped normalise these important check-ins by looking out for one another, reducing stigma, and driving genuine change. Thanks to our supporters, awareness continues to expand in schools, workplaces, sporting clubs, and communities in every corner of Australia. Thank you to everyone who started conversations, and to everyone who supported the mission and work of R U OK?. Below is a short video which shares a glimpse of the activity made possible through collaboration. *Voice-over by former-CEO, Katherine Newton.
From growing up on farms to a shared interest in history, Australians, young and old, are discovering just how much they have in common, and how storytelling can connect generations in unexpected ways. What’s bringing them together is 'Heart and Soul Story', a social enterprise that fosters intergenerational connections. Through its programs, young people and older generations come together in aged care homes and schools to share stories, build life skills, and prevent loneliness. At a recent session which encouraged everyone to Ask R U OK? Any Day, students visited an aged-care community with R U OK? Conversation Bingo cards, which feature prompts to spark humour, curiosity, and connection.
