R U OK? Conversation Convoy travels nationwide to start lifesaving conversations

Every year this initiative starts lifesaving conversations across the country beginning with the simple question ‘are you OK?’ Here’s how you can check in with your friends, family, or colleagues:

R U OK? Conversation Convoy in Orange NSW 2023.

In what has been a difficult start to the year, with floods, a cyclone, and a growing cost-of-living crisis, this convoy travelling across the country is hoping to get difficult conversations flowing.

The Conversation Convoy, which is on the road for 120 days a year, aims to start meaningful chats about mental health.

The initiative is organised by R U OK? a national suicide prevention organisation.

R U OK? provides free resources to help all Australians navigate meaningful conversation.

RU OK? community director Lachlan Searle said the Conversation Convoy was about creating a comforting space to start conversations and connect with communities.

“It’s all about setting up a nice, safe space to potentially have those difficult conversations,” he said.

“It’s about looking out for the people that are in your world.

“We will spend a few days in the Toowoomba region talking to people and having conversations that save lives.”

R U OK? provides free resources to help all Australians navigate meaningful conversation.

Mr Searle said the event was all about getting people to recognise the signs that someone might be struggling and taking the first step by asking “are you OK?”

“It’s really important to ask the question,” he said.

“The next step is to listen without judgement.

“You don’t necessarily need to have all the answers or any answers but sometimes if you can just listen it might help them deal with some of the load that they are carrying.”

R U OK? provides free resources to help all Australians navigate meaningful conversation.

Access to mental health services is significantly more limited in regional and remote areas, according to the National Rural Health Alliance.

Mr Searle said the Conversation Convoy was a fantastic support in regional communities that are lacking mental health support.

“The convoy is very much one of our devices to get into regional and remote Australia,” he said.

“So we’d like to make sure we can give back to the community.

“We are very conscious that people had a very difficult start to the year.

“There’s been a lot of flooding, particularly in Queensland and now in NSW.”

R U OK? provides free resources to help all Australians navigate meaningful conversation.

The Conversation Convoy will be in the Darling Downs region for five days next week.

You can catch the Convoy on Monday June 2 at a free community barbecue at Vintage Cow Cafe in Goombungee from 5-8pm.

It will also be at the FarmFest Grounds from June 3-5 and the Toowoomba Wellbeing Markets June 6 from 7.30-9am.