Looking back on this year's R U OK? Conversation Convoy

In the lead-up to this year’s R U OK? Day in September, the R U OK? Team travelled around the country in a Conversation Convoy to show Australia that we’ve all got what it takes to support those struggling with life.

The convoy visited communities along the way with the aim of giving people throughout the country more confidence to talk to someone they’re worried about.

“The Conversation Convoy is a national road-trip that R U OK? Undertook for the second time this year,” explains Anastasia from R U OK?.

‘’So we took four yellow vehicles, named after the four steps to an R U OK? Conversation, over 15,000km, visited every state and territory, and ran events in 25 communities across the country.”

“The message that we were sending this year is that every day is R U OK? Day and the day to reach out to someone that you think might be going through a tough time and start a conversation.”

The four key steps the convoy vehicles were named after are: Ask R U OK?, Listen, Encourage Action, and Check In.

“We’re strong believers that we’ve got the resources in our eyes and ears to start a conversation with someone that we’re worried about,” Says Anastasia.

“So the first step to having that chat is to Ask R U OK? This is all about picking the right time and place, making sure you’re not rushed when you’re having that conversation, and, of course, starting that chat with the person you’re worried about.”

“Once you’ve opened that conversation with that person, it’s really important to Listen, and to listen with an open mind. This is all about letting that person share their story, so using open questions, and giving them the time and space to share.”

Anastasia says that after you’ve asked and listened, it’s important to encourage some form of action for the person you’re having the conversation with, and then to check in on them later to see how things are going.

“The third step is to Encourage Action,” she says. “This is about helping them think of next steps that they can take to better manage the situation.”

“It could be self-care activities, such as making sure that they’re eating the right food, getting enough sleep, doing enough exercise. It could be talking to someone trusted, like a friend or a family member or a colleague about what’s troubling them. Or it could be accessing appropriate professional support.”

“The fourth step is to Check In. So we want you to circle back a few days later after the conversation.”

“See how they’re going, see how they’ve gone with the actions that you talked about, and just making sure that they’ve got that support network around them, that they know that people care, and that people are looking out for them as they’re going through this tough time.”

Conversations need to happen every day. Encourage more people to ask R U OK? in your school, workplace or community with our free resources.

Worried about someone? Find tips to help you ask R U OK? here.