ruok

R U OK? is an Australian non-profit mental health awareness campaign and charity that promotes everyday conversations about wellbeing and suicide prevention. The campaign encourages people to reach out to someone who may be struggling and to listen nonjudgmentally, offering support and encouraging professional help when needed.

Established in 2009, the campaign centers on a simple question, "R U OK?" and a three-step response: ask the question, listen, encourage action. Each year the initiative culminates in R U OK? Day, a public awareness event held on a Thursday in September. The day is used by schools, workplaces, community groups, and media to catalyze conversations and distribute resources.

R U OK? provides guides and conversation tips for different audiences—friends and family, coworkers, managers—along with online resources about recognizing signs of distress and how to respond. It also encourages organizations to implement supportive policies and training to reduce stigma around mental health and to connect people with professional services.

While the campaign has been widely adopted and has partnerships with government and corporate sponsors, it has faced criticism that messaging can oversimplify mental health issues or place too much responsibility on peers. Proponents contend that it helps normalize talking about mental health and fosters supportive communities, complementing professional care rather than replacing it.