In a significant step towards inclusivity and accessibility in mental health support, R U OK?, a leading suicide prevention charity in Australia, has launched a suite of resources in Hindi.
This initiative aims to promote life-changing conversations within the Hindi-speaking community, encouraging individuals to ask the simple yet profound question, “Are you OK?”
R U OK? is dedicated to empowering people to reach out to friends, family members, and colleagues who might be struggling with life’s challenges.
Through free resources, the organisation increases the willingness and confidence of Australians to recognise signs of struggle, start genuine conversations, and provide appropriate support. Importantly, R U OK? is not a crisis support or counselling service, but rather a catalyst for meaningful dialogue.
The development of the Hindi resources has been a community-led initiative in partnership with Suicide Prevention Australia and Mental Health Australia.
This collaboration ensures that the resources are culturally appropriate and resonate with the Hindi-speaking population.
As a co-facilitator in the development of R U OK?’s Hindi resources, Vinay Nair highlights that the initiative aims to simplify mental health conversations, making them accessible to everyone.
He notes, “In the Indian community, there has traditionally been a reluctance to discuss mental health openly. R U OK? is working to break down these barriers and encourage meaningful dialogues about well-being.”
He further adds, “The challenge was always going to be engaging people willing to discuss mental health from their own perspectives, rather than through an academic or scientific lens. Our goal was to normalise these conversations. When I went around looking for participants, it was crucial for me to be authentic from the start and ensure that people were comfortable and fully aware of what they were volunteering for.”
Katherine Newton, CEO of R U OK?, expresses her gratitude to the community members who shared their experiences and insights during the development process.
“The R U OK? Conversation Starters in Hindi flyer encourages people in the Hindi-speaking community to check in with their friends, family, and colleagues and help each other through difficult times. Because a conversation could change a life,” says Newton.
The journey towards creating these resources began in 2023 when R U OK? was invited to participate in a suicide prevention pilot under the Embrace Multicultural Mental Health program.
The project aimed to explore effective engagement with multicultural communities. R U OK? implemented a co-design process, promoting an Expression of Interest (EOI) for language co-facilitators nationwide. Workshops were then conducted with co-facilitators, R U OK? staff, and informed by a co-design consultant.
Through this inclusive process, resources were developed with continuous community feedback, ensuring cultural appropriateness. The project highlights the importance of community-led initiatives, appropriate imagery, and messaging, as well as the inclusion of individuals with lived experiences.
The primary goal of the Hindi language service is to make mental health support more accessible to the Hindi-speaking community. By providing culturally relevant resources, R U OK? aims to break down barriers to mental health conversations and promote a supportive environment.
Expressing her enthusiasm for the initiative, Shwetali Sawant, a community member, says, “I’m really happy that R U OK? is launching their Hindi resources. This initiative is a significant step towards making mental health support more accessible to our Hindi-speaking community, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to ask and answer the important questions about their mental wellbeing.”
Elvis Martin, current ambassador of R U OK? is delighted about the launch of the resources in Hindi. He adds, “Asking simple question. RUOK? Can we make a huge difference in someone’s life. On RUOK Day, let’s remember that a simple conversation can be a lifeline. Together, we can create a community where everyone feels heard and supported.”
The R U OK? Conversation Starters in Hindi is a free flyer featuring a Bollywood-inspired narrative, telling the story of someone who is not feeling OK, their journey to seek help, and the impact of their experience on their loved ones.
This engaging approach aims to resonate deeply with the Hindi-speaking audience, encouraging them to start supportive conversations.
R U OK? is also piloting a workshop for the Hindi-speaking community called ‘Supporting Your Community’. This workshop, delivered by a bilingual, bicultural facilitator, will be culturally appropriate and aims to increase awareness of the importance of connection and having R U OK? conversations. Community members can learn more and apply for a free workshop through the QR code provided on the R U OK? website.
The launch of R U OK?’s Hindi resources marks a significant milestone in the organisation’s mission to cultivate mental health conversations across diverse communities. By embracing cultural nuances and working collaboratively with the community, R U OK? ensures that no one is left behind in the journey towards mental wellbeing.
R U OK? was founded by Gavin Larkin in 2009 to honour his father Barry, whose suicide in 1995 left a deep impact on his family. Realizing that a national campaign was needed to drive change, Gavin and Jsanina Nearn launched R U OK? to encourage meaningful conversations across Australia. Despite Gavin’s death in 2011, his legacy endures through this movement, which equips Australians to support those struggling with life, grounded in the insights and experiences of those who have lived through similar challenges.
For more information on the Hindi resources and upcoming workshops, visit ruok.org.au/hindi
To order pamphlet, click here
To fill out an EOI for RUOK to run a Hindi based workshop for your community, click here
The Indian Sun acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
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