Dozens of bright yellow sports balls have been thrown and kicked about the region in recent weeks as a novel way of promoting the annual R U OK? Day across Australia which falls today (Thursday).

R U OK? Day is a mental health initiative and a play-on-words on “Are you okay?”.
Its aim is to encourage conversations about mental wellness among friends, family members and work colleagues.

The promotional sports ball carry the R U OK? logo and they are also designed to be conversation-starters.

They come at a total price of several hundreds of dollars and this expense has been met by the Wattle Range Suicide Prevention Network.

Network secretary Marg Chapple said R U OK? Day had a variety of promotional materials for sale but her committee settled for the regulation sports balls

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Ms Chapple said the WRSPN had funds in hand from the successful Amazing Race fundraiser in 2020.

“Members of the network have visited all nine football and netball clubs who play in the Mid South East competition,” Ms Chapple said.

“We have given sports balls to the netball, footy, soccer and basketball clubs in Millicent.

“The WRSPN does not mind whether they are used for matches or practice.

“One local club intends to display the R U OK? Day ball in their bar area to get talk going.”

Ms Chapple’s group is arranging displays today in shop windows and the Millicent Library and is circulating promotional cards and wrist bands.

“A number of Millicent cafes are promoting R U OK? Day and one of the WRSPN members will be calling door-to-door on businesses today,” she said.

“We will be having a promotional stall at the Mid SE grand final at Tantanoola on September 18.”

R U OK? is a harm prevention charity that encourages people to stay connected and have conversations that can help others through difficult times in their lives.

The charity’s 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.

R U OK? contributes to suicide prevention efforts by encouraging people to invest more time in their personal relationships and building the capacity of informal support networks – friends, family and colleagues – to be alert to those around them, have a conversation if they identify signs of distress or difficulty and connect someone to appropriate support, long before they’re in crisis.