Building resilience has never been more important, says BDO’s Steven Sorbello on R U OK? Day

Too many of us get caught up in our own world thinking about the worst-case scenario, we need to build resilience, share our concerns and ask others R U OK?

Johnathan Thurston with his mentor, the late Paul Green. Picture: Peter Wallis

“The days of ‘she’ll be right’ are gone. Suicide has taken far too many lives in this country, and we need to be able to talk about it.” Distressed words of footballer, Johnathan Thurston, last month in response to the sudden death of his mentor Paul Green.

Today is R U OK? day. R U OK? is a charity that encourages us to talk to each other more about the things that matter.

It is true - a problem shared is a problem half solved. Too many of us get caught up in our own world thinking about the worst-case scenario without talking to others. Ask yourself, “How would I advise a friend if they came to me with this problem?” I bet that all too often we give our friends different advice to the advice we give ourselves.

Today makes me reflect on discussions I have had with friends, colleagues and clients.

I often find that people from all walks of life, even those that come across as ’highly successful and invincible’, have similar problems and worries to me and want to talk.

I have also found that many invest time building resilience which helps to deal with their challenges.

Steven Sorbello is the office managing partner in Brisbane at BDO Australia.

Building resilience has never been more important – time away from the news and social media, taking up exercise and meditation is a great start.

It is difficult to help others without our own health, and we just might influence each other to pick up some of these life changing habits.

The statistics are sobering. Eight people take their own lives every day in Australia and many more make attempts to. Some 89 per cent of us know someone who has made a suicide attempt. Add to this the huge number that may never contemplate suicide but are sitting patiently waiting to find happiness.

There is a lot more that we can do for each other and for ourselves. Talk to each other to share our concerns, teach our children how to better deal with adversity, and use today to ask R U OK? Many of us will have more in common than you think.

Steven Sorbello is the office managing partner in Brisbane at BDO Australia.