R U OK? 

A range of circumstances can lead to a young person feeling low, including:

• Big life changes like moving house or school
• Expeiencing grief or loss
• Being around people going through tough times
• Being bullied
• Arguing with someone
• Problems with school work
• Being bored
• Having a medical condition or chronic illness
• Not sleeping well
• Not excercising enough
• Hormonal changes
• Special needs

Be aware of certain behaviours or signs that can indicate a young person might be struggling.  The first thing to look out is changes in behaviour.  Whe people feel low they often:

• Withdraw from their friends and family
• Lash out at people and get angry or upset really easily, including towards people they really care about
• Cry or become emotional
• Lose interest in activities and things they usually love
• Have changed sleeping patterns.  They might be sleeping all the time, not sleeping much at all, or sleeping at strange hours (such as in the middle of the day)
• Have changed appetite.  They could be eating more than usual, or less

Young people cannot be expected to fix someone's problems, nor know the best way to help and support.

However they can be encouraged to listen to what their friend is saying, let them know they care and tell a teacher, school councellor or trusted adultif they are worried about their friend.

By promoting an enviroment of positive peer support and accessing support chanels via an adult, children can learn that asking 'Are you OK' is a life skill.

R U OK? has 4 Conversation Steps to help navigate a conversation when someone says, "No I'm not OK".

LEARN THE 4 STEPS

R U OK? has developed our four conversation steps to give you, no matter how young you are, the skills and confidence to navigate a conversation with someone you're worried about:

LEARN MORE

Useful contacts when a child is not OK:

• School Counsellor
• GP or psychologist 
• Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800
• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• 000 if life is in imminent danger