R U OK? is a national suicide prevention charity and registered public health promotion that encourages people to stay connected and have conversations that can help others through difficult times. Their work focuses on building the motivation, confidence and skills of the help-giver – the person who can have a meaningful conversation with someone who is struggling with life.

Thursday 11 September is R U OK?Day, but we know that whether it’s a friend, family member, partner, or colleague, the people around us go through life’s ups and downs every day. That’s why we want everyone to feel confident to check in with the people they care about and ask R U OK? Any Day.

At Carmel College, we take everyone’s mental health and wellbeing very seriously. House Leaders, Mrs Laura Steele and Mrs Coby Williamson designed and initiated the concept of “Carmel’s Got H.E.A.R.T.” to celebrate the R U OK? day and week. They joined forces with their incredible house leader colleagues, Mr Sam Leadbetter, Mr Dan Kenyon and Mr Dean Stevens and Student Wellbeing Leaders, Ms Jacqueline Weidmann and Mr Liam Lunney, and Counsellors Mrs Fiona Day and Ms Michelle Sams to create a video showing staff and students that it’s truly OK to ask others, “R U OK?”

Once again, the talented and creative mind of Mrs Steele deserves recognition, along with the acting skills of our pastoral, wellbeing, and counselling teams. The Carmel’s Got H.E.A.R.T. initiative was designed to encourage students and staff to reflect on their own mental wellbeing and to start one of the most important conversations they can have — asking and answering, “R U OK?” through fun and engaging activities.

The pastoral team put a lot of heart into creating the video that is being shown to PC groups, and they hope it brings smiles to faces and sets the tone for a week of connection, care, and community. Keep an eye on notices for each day’s events.

Overview of activities for Carmel’s Got H.E.A.R.T

We thank everyone for helping us make Carmel’s Got H.E.A.R.T. a meaningful part of R U OK? Week!

Ms Michelle Sams

Guidance Counsellor