Hay community invited to share morning tea for life-changing conversations

The Interreach Hay Community Centre is opening its doors for a special R U OK? Day morning tea, encouraging locals to come together for meaningful conversations that could change a life.

On Thursday 11 September, from 9:30am to 11am, community members are invited to join what organisers describe as "a relaxed morning tea as we come together for a friendly community check-in."

The event coincides with R U OK? Day, Australia's national day of action that encourages people to start conversations about mental health and wellbeing. With tea, coffee and morning tea provided, the gathering offers a comfortable setting for neighbours to connect and check in on each other's wellbeing.

R U OK? Day has a deeply personal origin story that resonates with families across Australia. The initiative was founded by advertiser Gavin Larkin in 2009, after his father Barry tragically took his own life in 1995. Filled with grief and regret, Gavin wished he had asked his father if he was okay, and this ignited an idea to create a platform that encouraged meaningful conversations about mental health.

The first R U OK? Day was held on 29 November 2009, but the annual timing later changed to be on the second Thursday of September. The message for the first R U OK? Day was "a conversation can change a life" - a slogan that continues to drive the movement today.

Tragically, founder Gavin Larkin died from lymphoma in 2011, but his family have continued to promote the campaign, ensuring his vision of preventing suicide through connection continues to reach millions of Australians.

The beauty of R U OK? lies in its simplicity. The campaign encourages the use of a four-step model to have meaningful conversations: (1) ask the person how they're going, (2) listen without judgement, (3) encourage the person to take action, such as seeking support from a mental health professional and (4) check in with the person by following up with them at a later time.

This approach, known as ALEC (Ask, Listen, Encourage action, Check in), empowers ordinary people to make a difference without needing professional training.

While R U OK? Day falls on the second Thursday of September each year, the organisation emphasises that asking "are you OK?" should be part of everyday relationships with friends, family, teammates and colleagues. This year's theme, "Ask R U OK? Any Day," reinforces that meaningful conversations about mental health shouldn't be limited to one day annually.

People can experience things like relationship breakdowns, financial difficulties, health issues or periods of major change at work, home or in life, and won't always tell you if something's troubling them. The earlier you give someone an opportunity to open up to you, the sooner they can find appropriate support and the greater the chance that together, you can stop small problems from becoming bigger ones.

Research shows the campaign is making a real difference. Campaign awareness and participation have increased significantly, from 66% and 19% in 2014 to 78% and 32% by 2017. An overwhelming majority (90%) of people who are regularly asked R U OK? feel more supported, connected and cared about.

Those on the receiving end of a meaningful R U OK? conversation report feeling supported, heard, safe and better about managing their situation having talked it through with someone who showed genuine interest and concern.

The statistics paint a sobering picture of Australia's mental health landscape. 8.8 people take their lives every day in Australia, and an estimated 55,000 Australians make a suicide attempt every year. Rural communities often face additional challenges including geographic isolation, limited access to mental health services, and economic pressures from drought and other environmental factors.

Events like the Hay morning tea play a vital role in strengthening community connections and ensuring no one feels alone in their struggles. In any given year in Australia, one in five of us will experience symptoms of mental illness, but 60% will not reach out for help.

The morning tea format removes barriers and creates an approachable environment for conversations. By asking, 'Are you OK?' and listening with compassion, we can help to decrease the feelings of disconnection and unbelonging that put people at risk and support them to seek help long before they reach crisis.

For those interested in supporting R U OK's mission beyond attending the morning tea, donations can be made via QR code on event materials. R U OK? Limited is on the Register of Harm Prevention Charities, and the organisation continues to expand its reach through corporate sponsors, ambassadors and government funding.

As Hay prepares to host its R U OK? Day morning tea, the event represents more than just a community gathering. It's an opportunity to honour Gavin Larkin's legacy and his father Barry's memory by ensuring that in 2025, fewer people feel they have nowhere to turn.

On the R U OK? website, Larkin stated that "getting connected and staying connected is the best thing anyone can do for themselves and for those who may be at risk".

The Interreach Hay Community Centre morning tea on Thursday 11 September offers the perfect opportunity for locals to do just that. Sometimes the most powerful tool for helping someone is the simplest: genuinely asking "Are you OK?" and taking the time to listen to the answer.

For more conversation tips and resources, visit ruok.org.au