吃瓜不打烊

10 September 2020

For students and staff at , Box Hill, there has never been a more important time to shine a light on mental health and wellbeing than on R U OK?Day 2020.

Yellow letters in the shape of ‘R U OK’ have been constructed by the college’s maintenance team and placed along the front gates of the college on Whitehorse Road for all to see, in the hope that they inspire others to take action and connect with anyone who might be struggling with life’s ups and downs. In support of R U OK?Day, Our Lady of Sion College students and staff will be wearing a touch of yellow, the college’s counsellors will be running a Q&A session, and there will also be an Open Mic session where students have been invited to choose a song to sing that they think represents the themes of R U OK?Day.

Lighting up the college for R U OK?Day is the brainchild of Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing, Christine Kralj. ‘This term, we have been encouraging our college community to stay connected and support those around us who might not be feeling OK, so that we can brighten up their day and give them hope to keep going’, she said. ‘As we know, 2020 has been a challenging year for all of us and it is important that we are all reaching out to our friends and loved ones at this time of lockdown. We have been sending a strong message to our community that, by doing something to show others that we care, we can make a positive difference to their lives.’

With this year’s theme of ‘There’s more to say after R U OK?’, students have been focusing on building confidence and increased skills so they know how to navigate a conversation with someone in their life who might be struggling. The message behind R U OK?Day brings the critical issue of mental health into the spotlight, but also extends well beyond into the days, weeks and months ahead.