REX - Regional Express

currentaffair "Asking someone, 'Are you okay?' can open the door to comfort, support and even treatment, and help to reduce the alarming rate at which Australians are taking their lives." fifth year, with awareness increasing from 15 per cent in 2009 to 65 per cent in 2012. The NSW Minister for Mental Health, The Hon Kevin Humphries, grew up in a rural community and knows only too well the effects of social isolation on a person's wellbeing. Having seen many families affected by depression and mental health issues, he says, "Sadly, I know too many Australians who feel too ashamed and too embarrassed to talk about how mental illness or a suicide death has affected them." Previous page and above: Crowds come together to make a statement at Bondi Beach; Aya Larkin, brother of the late Gavin Larkin. Humphries is an advocate of R U OK?Day, as he can see how it encourages people in remote communities to support one another: "When I visit communities throughout NSW, people often tell me they wish there was a way they could help to reduce the rate of suicide and attempted suicides in their towns. I tell them they can help. "Suicide prevention is a community issue that requires all of us to work together to support those at risk. Each and every one of us must acknowledge the importance of this issue and speak openly and honestly about it, so those in trouble know we're supporting them when they need it most." Gavin's brother, Aya Larkin, is a nonexecutive director of R U OK?Day and he, too, feels it's important to target people in regional areas who are at risk. "We've been trying to identify the various parts of Australian society who are most at risk and get out to as many of those people as we can. We've been working with Indigenous communities, and I think refugees and asylum seekers would be a great area to bring help to next," he says. Of course, mental health is not just an issue in rural communities. The rise of bullying, particularly cyberbullying, is affecting an increasing number of teenagers and children throughout Australia. Isabella Kwai is a student who helped to put together the R U OK? at School toolkit, which is available to download from the R U OK?Day website. She says checking in with friends regularly is vital, not just because it shows you're a good friend, but also because something may be wrong and it gives them an opportunity to talk. "You do have to talk about your problems eventually to get it out because that's how we stay healthy. 'Healthy' isn't just about being physically healthy, it's about being happy 73

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