The question teens need to ask

hello • 11 July 2017

This article was written by Jack Ward, a 14-year-old journalist from Ararat in Victoria who believes in the power of conversation. You can read more of Jack's stories, articles and opinion pieces at www.jacktward.com

Life as a teenage can be difficult sometimes. You’re juggling homework, family, friends and you might even be dealing with things like drugs and alcohol. Plus, your body and brain are changing. It can feel like a lot of pressure and a lot of stress. And when that pressure and stress become a bit too much, we need our friends to step in and make sure everything is OK.

But it’s not always obvious when the pressure and stress has become too much. Some people like to keep their struggles private and not show their true emotions. So, someone could appear happy all the time when they’re really struggling or going through a tough time. That’s why we need to make sure we’re checking in with our friends and the people around us all the time.

Over the last few years I have stood beside a number of my friends who’ve been going through very hard times. Recently, a friend of mine, someone who seemed happy nearly 100 per cent of the time, made me feel like there was a slight difference in their behaviour. I asked if they were okay and they said, “Actually, I’m not”. My friends and I made sure we helped this person but we also wanted them to have a bit more support than we could give them on our own. So after this conversation, we went to the school counsellor. The counsellor then made the time to have a chat with them and made sure they were all good. I'm so glad we did this as that person's now in a much better place.

No matter how old we are, the job we have or where we live, we need to ensure those around us are healthy and safe. There is no excuse for not looking out for our friends, family and even those who we might not be that close with. So, if someone you know seems a little off-colour or you’re wondering how they are doing, ask them, “are you ok?.” And if either of you need some extra support speak to a counsellor, psychologist or a trusted adult. Your support can make a difference.

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Announcement from the CEO, Katherine Newton

by Katherine Newton • 16 October 2025
After ten years of teamwork, partnerships, growth, and countless conversations, I will be stepping down as CEO from 1 December 2025. It has been an extraordinary privilege to contribute to the growth of this movement and to witness meaningful change before my eyes. Gavin Larkin founded R U OK? because he believed conversation has the power to change lives. One seemingly simple question, when asked with genuine intent and care, can start a meaningful and sometimes complex conversation. And that’s what Gavin wanted. For people to look beyond responses of “I’m fine” or “All good” and ask, “Are you really OK?”. The notion of going deeper with conversations, of asking a second time, of trusting our guts and moving past our hesitation - is being grasped and moving beyond one day to any day. Whilst saying “G’day how are you?” will always be a greeting - we can do more. When Gavin lost his father to suicide he wanted to try and protect other families from the pain his endured. He wanted to get people talking and having real chats about how they’re feeling with their mates, their family and their colleagues. In locker rooms, lunch rooms, and lounge rooms across the nation. But he approached it from a different angle. Gavin wanted all of us to have the confidence to support the people we care about who might be struggling with life. To make conversations a natural part of our behaviour, to openly show our signals of support. So as R U OK? generations continue to evolve, my chapter is coming to a close. How fortunate I am to have been part of the story. From hesitant glances during presentations in 2015 to queues of people waiting for a conversation in 2025. From yellow wigs in the office, to welcoming yellow-swathed Ambassadors to share their lived experience. From yellow coffee cups in a café, to yellow cars driving into communities nationwide. And yes, there’s been a few cupcakes along the way. Social change is happening, and we are all a part of it. No one organisation can prevent suicide, no one individual can save everyone - but the power of many can make a difference.
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