IN 2012, 2535 people died by suicide in Australia, or the equivalent of seven people per day. R U OK? Day aims to destigmatise suicide and promote the value of the community stepping up and asking friends or family they are worried about if they are OK.
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The Ararat and Surrounds Suicide Prevention Network held an R U OK? Day event last week, with guest speakers including Ararat Rural City Mayor Cr Paul Hooper and former The Biggest Loser contestant Sharon Basset.
The event was held to help people feel comfortable talking about suicide and provide information about where they can receive support locally.
Sharon Basset said R U OK? Day played a vital role in suicide prevention as every single person involved is assisting the community to band together and show their support.
"Everyone has the ability to start a conversation with anyone or to just check if the people around them are OK," she said.
"A few months ago I teamed up with my daughters to start a smile campaign; these smiles have now spread around the world encouraging everyone to share smiles and positivity.
"When I first started with my smile cards my main focus was to try to get people to stop focusing on the negatives in everything especially on social media. Some people I give a smile card to tell me their stories and even though they are usually strangers we connect in a very special way.
"It's a great way to initiate a conversation with someone. Some people even spill their hearts out to me and that is amazing, I always spend that small amount of time listening and assisting them in any way I can even if that is only sharing a smile."
No-one should ever be scared or frightened to get out there, even if you are only helping one person it's that one person that you might have just helped to save their life."
Ms Basset said that even in the Biggest Loser house contestants needed support from each other, and had to be there just to lend a listening ear.
She said that sometimes just debriefing at the end of each day and checking in on each other did really help to face the next day head on.
"Even if somebody doesn't feel confident enough to talk to you then you could direct them where they can get help, like Lifeline or the suicide support line," Ms Basset said.
"Let's all get out there and spread the word and assist in suicide prevention, maybe you could even hold an event just like this?
"If you are worried about anyone whether it be at school, or at work or a friend or family member, just start that conversation with them, ask them are they OK?"