It’s ‘R U OK? Day’ Today But Seriously… R U Okay?

Your mates are here for you.

You’ve probably seen your school or uni parading R U OK? Day. That’s because students all around Australia are dealing with some heavy stress right now.

There’s an upside to this; and it’s that your mates are probably low-key going through the same thing, even if it doesn't seem like it.

Having a chat with them, active listening and sharing your own experiences can be really helpful if you're feeling up to it.

Raise your hand if stress is basically your constant mood right now?

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According to the Studiosity Student Wellbeing Report, a collab between Student Edge and Studiosity, a staggering 74 percent of Aussie students feel stressed at least once a month, and 72 percent reported weekly or even more frequent stress related to their studies.

That's an alarming number of stressed students, and it's messing with various aspects of their lives.

Take procrastination, for example. Stress is like the OG trigger for delaying uni or schoolwork, making a major decision, or ticking off things on your to-do list.

Eight out of ten students are battling the procrastination monster, especially the gals out there.

So trust us, you're not alone.

So, what is R U OK? Day and how does it all work? It’s all about four simple steps.

Step 1: Ask "R U OK"?

Seems simple enough. Even if they're not ready to chat, knowing someone cares enough to ask is major.

And if they do open up, you can continue with the next three steps.

Step 2: Listen with an open mind.

Be present and actively listen.

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Asking the question is cool, but if they sense you're not actually listening or you’re being judgemental, it defeats the purpose.

You can show support by repeating back what you’ve heard (in your own words) and asking if you’ve understood them properly.

And please don't rush to spill your own drama in the mix. Respect their story as their own personal experience.

Step 3: Encourage action.

Depending how heavy their struggles are you might wanna encourage some action to help them destress or even suggest talking to a health professional.

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There are small things you could suggest like going for a walk or studying in a chilled spot at the park or the beach if they’re stressed about their studies.

If you're unsure what to do, just ask: “How would you like me to support you?" and if they drop something that's too heavy for you to handle solo, R U OK? has a list of support services you can tap into here.

Step 4: Check-in.

After your chat, make a note to check in later.

You could say something like, "I've been thinking of you and wanted to know how you've been going since we last chatted." They'll appreciate knowing you’ve got their back.

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