Home featured Image Credit: Ben Houston Photography for R U OK? Day Featured Mental Health and Wellbeing Featured R U OK? A more important question than ever in 2021 Clare Loewenthal September 9, 2021 With the disruptions caused by the pandemic and the isolation of lockdowns taking a toll on many Australians’ mental health, this year’s R U OK? Day may be the most important since its inception in 2009. R U OK? Day is being held on Thursday, 9 September, a day dedicated to checking in with those around us and supporting them in their mental health struggles. This year’s theme, “Are they really OK? Ask them today”, encourages all Australians to think about how the people in their world are really going. The message comes in response to new research which found 22 per cent of Australians aren’t reaching out to ask, “are you OK?” because they haven’t felt someone needed their help. The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures on the effects of the pandemic shows people around the country are struggling. The statistics were gathered in June 2021, before the latest round of lockdowns, and the key findings on emotional and mental wellbeing showed: One in five (20 per cent) Australians experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress in the last four weeks Almost one in three (30 per cent younger Australians (aged 18 to 34 years) experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress, compared with 18 per cent of people aged