State Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad and state Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy have highlighted the importance of R U OK? Day.
R U OK? Day, held on Thursday, September 14, is an R U OK? charity initiative.
The charity’s mission is to encourage people to support and assist each other during difficult times.
Ms Broad said many regional communities faced challenging times, and R U OK? Day was a perfect opportunity to check in with family and friends to see if they were well.
“The residents of northern Victoria are dealing with a long list of issues that can all affect a person’s mental health,” Ms Broad said.
“These include everything from the rising cost of food and heating to crumbling roads and our overstretched health system.”
Ms Brad said the October 2022 floods were still etched in people’s minds.
“I see the trauma these events are causing as I travel around my electorate,” Ms Broad said.
“Often, as strong regional people, we simply soldier on and make the best of things. RU OK? Day reminds us that it’s also a strength to speak up when you need help.”
Mr McCurdy said mental health issues were often bottled up, and checking in on people could make all the difference.
“R U OK? Day is an important time to check in with loved ones and ask a simple yet potentially life-changing question,” he said.
“It gives people a chance to stop and listen, as well as share the struggles they are going through. Often mental health issues are bottled up and hidden under the surface, making it harder to detect if someone is struggling.”
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, an estimated one in five people aged 16 to 85 will experience a mental health disorder.
Studies have also shown that youth in regional and rural areas are more likely to suffer mental health problems than their metropolitan counterparts.
In 2021, there were 3144 deaths by suicide in Australia, an average of nine a day.
Suicide rates are 40 per cent higher in regional and rural areas than in metropolitan areas.