Page 2282 - Week 06 - Thursday, 6 June 2019
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Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.
Bill agreed to.
Adjournment
Motion (by Mr Gentleman) proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Mental health—R U OK
MRS KIKKERT (Ginninderra) (5.33): Every person has struggles, whether financial or emotional, related to health or to relationships et cetera. Sometimes these struggles are obvious and many times they can be virtually invisible, especially if no-one is looking. That is one more reason why we need to be actively looking out for and checking on each other. We need to sincerely ask, “Are you okay?” and then be prepared to listen to and support the other person whenever the answer is no or not really. The alternative is to allow the people around us to suffer in silence, and the outcome of that in far too many cases is tragedy of some kind.
The R U OK campaign was launched in 2009 by Gavin Larkin. Fourteen years earlier, Gavin had lost his father to suicide. This is a far too common occurrence. Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians between the ages of 15 and 44, with more than eight deaths by suicide occurring each day, on average. Men are three times more likely than women to take their own lives, and the suicide rate among Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders is almost three times the national rate.
Death by suicide often takes family and friends by surprise, especially when they had no idea that a loved one was even hurting. Hence the need to inspire and empower people to meaningfully connect with others around them by sincerely asking them how they are going. Last Friday, Anytime Fitness here the city participated in the Tread as One initiative, a 24-hour treadmill challenge in support of the national R U OK campaign. The purpose of the event was to raise much-needed awareness of suicide, along with raising funds to aid its prevention.
I thank Anytime Fitness for sponsoring this event. I also thank my Canberra Liberals colleague Ms Elizabeth Lee for inviting me, Miss Candice Burch and Mr Alistair Coe to join her in taking our turns on the treadmills on Friday morning. I also thank all the Canberrans who participated in this great cause, including those who generously gave a donation towards Anytime Fitness’s goal of raising $4,000 for the R U OK campaign.
I encourage all Canberrans to learn more about the steps they can take to help those around them who may be struggling with hidden depression. The steps are simple. Ask: “Are you okay?” Listen, encourage action, then check back in on them. In a world where people increasingly feel socially isolated, let us all do better to have real
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