Australian cricketer Chris Green is encouraging Hindi-speaking Australians to check in with friends, family and colleagues who may be having a difficult time, as R U OK? prepares for its national Day of Action on 10 September.
Green, who captains the Sydney Thunder and plays for New South Wales, is supporting free Hindi-language resources developed by R U OK? in partnership with Hindi-speaking Australians. The resources are designed to make conversations about life’s ups and downs easier to start and more relevant to Hindi-speaking communities.
Green has spoken publicly about the importance of staying connected after losing people close to him to suicide. Those experiences led his friendship group to establish regular check-ins with one another, a practice he now encourages through his role as an R U OK? Ambassador.
With millions of Australians expected to follow cricket during the upcoming season, Green is using his profile in the sport to encourage people to pay attention when someone they know does not seem like themselves and to make time for a genuine conversation.
The message from R U OK? this year is, “If you’re thinking it, Ask R U OK? Any Day”, with the organisation encouraging people to check in throughout the year rather than treating the annual campaign as the only opportunity to ask.
New research from R U OK?’s 2026 Impact Tracker found that one in three Australians underestimate the difference they can make by asking someone if they are OK. At the same time, most people who had been asked said they felt supported and positive about the experience.
R U OK? CEO Lach Searle said the findings suggested that hesitation can sometimes prevent people from making a simple approach to someone they are concerned about.
“Many people want to help but sometimes they hold back because they’re not sure whether checking in with someone will really make a difference,” Searle said.
He said a conversation would not necessarily resolve the difficulties someone was experiencing, but could help them feel less alone and encourage them to seek further support when needed.
“If you’ve noticed someone doesn’t seem quite themselves, trust that instinct and reach out,” Searle said.
R U OK? encourages people to use its four-step conversation framework, known as ALEC: Ask, Listen, Encourage Action and Check In.
The organisation says people do not need professional expertise to begin a supportive conversation. Its guidance focuses on choosing an appropriate time and place, listening without judgement and encouraging someone to seek additional support if they need it.
For Newcastle teacher Eliza Bunner, 30, being asked if she was OK by a close friend became an important moment when she was struggling but had managed to hide how she was feeling from others.
“I already knew I wasn’t coping, but that conversation made it easier to open up and take the first steps towards getting support,” Bunner said.
She now volunteers as an R U OK? Community Ambassador and shares her experience to encourage others to trust their instincts when they are concerned about someone.
R U OK? Principal Psychologist Rachel Clements said people often underestimate the value of simply making time to listen.
“Meaningful support doesn’t require expertise,” Clements said. “What matters most is making time to ask, listening without judgement and being present.”
The organisation’s Hindi resources form part of its broader effort to develop materials for different communities and settings across Australia. R U OK? says its resources are informed by lived experience and are intended to help people build confidence to recognise when someone may be struggling and respond appropriately.
Hindi is one of the most widely spoken languages in Australian homes, reflecting the country’s growing Indian-Australian population. Providing information in languages used within communities can make health and wellbeing messages easier for some people to access and share.
R U OK? Day will take place on Thursday 10 September 2026. The annual event is held on the second Thursday of September and encourages Australians to maintain regular, meaningful conversations with people they care about.
The organisation was founded in 2009 by advertising executive Gavin Larkin, who wanted to encourage people to connect with those who may be experiencing difficult periods in their lives following his own family’s experience of suicide.
R U OK? provides free conversation resources throughout the year, with guidance aimed at helping people start conversations, listen and encourage appropriate support.
Green’s involvement gives the campaign a link to one of Australia’s most followed sports, while the Hindi-language resources provide a way for the message to reach more people in a language they use at home.
For anyone concerned about a friend, relative, teammate or colleague, R U OK? says asking the question can be a useful starting point. It encourages people to keep checking in rather than assuming that one conversation will address everything a person may be facing.
Free conversation resources and support information are available through R U OK?.
Support independent community journalism. Support The Indian Sun.
Follow The Indian Sun on X | Instagram | Facebook
Support Independent Community Journalism
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun exists for one reason: to tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.
We report on local councils, state politics, small businesses and cultural festivals. We focus on the Indian diaspora and the wider multicultural community with care, balance and accountability. We publish in print and online, send regular newsletters and produce video content. We also run media training programs to help community organisations share their own stories.
We operate independently.
Community journalism does not have the backing of large media corporations. Advertising revenue fluctuates. Platform algorithms change. Costs continue to rise. Yet the need for credible, grounded reporting in a multicultural Australia has never been greater.
When you support The Indian Sun, you support:
• Independent reporting on issues affecting migrant communities
• Coverage of local and state decisions that shape daily life
• A platform for small businesses and community groups
• Media training that builds skills within the community
• Journalism accountable to readers
We cannot cover everything, but we work to cover what matters.
If you value thoughtful reporting that reflects Australia’s diversity, we invite you to contribute. Every donation helps us maintain the quality and consistency of our work.
Please consider making a contribution today.
Thank you for your support.
The Indian Sun Team
