Abstract
Suicide is a social and economic burden that impacts many people around the world. It is a significant public health issue, with over 800,000 suicide deaths taking place every year, and these numbers are increasing each year. Suicide is mostly preventable with the right resources and help. However, people with suicidal tendencies are less likely to seek help due to a variety of reasons, including pessimism, stigma surrounding mental health issues, fear of being hospitalized, or believing that treatment will not help. In Australia, the program R U OK? was developed to promote openness and communication. Initially started as a grassroots campaign, the program aims to reduce suicide by providing support to those facing challenges and educating the community around them. By focusing on the help-giver and not the person who is struggling, R U OK? promotes community-based intervention, acknowledging that friends, family, and the community can have a larger impact on mental health than specialized care.
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Appendices
Discussion Questions
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1.
Based on your own experiences and knowledge, make a list of suicide prevention campaigns that you’re aware of. In your opinion, what makes these campaigns effective or ineffective?
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2.
How can we improve screening for mental health issues among students? If you could implement one program to target suicide prevention in the community, what would that be and why?
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3.
Would a campaign like R U OK? be relevant in other cultural contexts? Why or why not?
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What are the main challenges or limitations with the gatekeeper model for suicide prevention?
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How does stigma influence mental health care seeking behavior? Has it changed over the last few decades? What policies or programs could be instituted to reduce stigma related to suicidality?
Follow-Up Readings
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R U OK? Organizational Website: http://www.ruok.org.au
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Dumesnil H, Verger P. (2009). Public awareness campaigns about depression and suicide: A review. Psychiatric Services, 60, 1203–1213.
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Van Orden K.A, Witte T.K, Cukrowicz K.C, Braithwaite S.R, Selby E.A, Joiner T.E, Jr. (2010). The interpersonal theory of suicide. Psychological Review, 117, 575–600.
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Maher, B. (2019). R U OK?: The Role of Community in Suicide Prevention. In: Withers, M., McCool, J. (eds) Global Health Leadership. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95633-6_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95633-6_8
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