Be The Ultimate Support

Psychologist RACHEL CLEMENTS shares how having a conversation with a loved one could save their life

September 12 marks R U OK? Day, a time every year to inspire and empower yourself and those around you to connect with your family, friends, colleagues and everyone in between to start a conversation about mental health.

It can be a difficult subject to broach, especially if the person you’re worried about isn’t open to discussing their struggles.

We spoke to Rachel Clements, director of psychological services at the Centre for Corporate Health, for her advice on being the best supporter you can be...

First things first!

How can you tell if someone you know is struggling?

“Everyone shows they’re not tracking well in different ways,” says Rachel. “Some are more subtle and harder to pick up on than others. Generally however, they fall into four categories: physical, behaviours, thoughts and moods.”

Here are some warning signs to look out for that may indicate someone is not OK:

• Constantly tired, rundown or feeling unwell