Image: Emergency workers at Cronulla Beach for R U OK? Day 2022. Photo: Ben Houston/R U OK?
By SWAGATALAKSHMI ROYCHOWDURY
Thursday September 8 marks R U OK? Day 2022. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (2020) reports that 8 Australians take their lives every day, with another study revealing that 89% of people report knowing someone who has attempted suicide.
R U OK? day is a nation wide campaign to encourage conversations surrounding mental heath.
City Hub spoke with R U OK? ambassador and Vaucluse local Joshua Burke, who shared his story about his struggles with mental illness, and just how important it is to reach out for help.
Burke, who currently works in cryptocurrency, is doing well today. But this was not the case six years ago when he first started showing signs of serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening syndrome caused by the use of serotonergic drugs, around the age of seventeen or eighteen.
While growing up in a school with a strong focus on sport, Burke said he found it tough to talk about his feelings.
“Being a male and trying to talk about feelings was always a tricky situation for me” he said.
“My subconscious answer was always yes when someone asks me ‘R u OK? I fell into a deep depression. I didn’t really let anyone know about it.”
Despite awareness campaigns, men dealing with mental health adversities still find it tough to speak up. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021), 75% of people who die by suicide are male.
“My mum asked me ‘Are you okay?’ and then she followed up with ‘Are you sure?’. That was a big turning point for me. I was able to let go and let her know what was going on,” he said.
Burke finally reached out to professionals to get the help that he needed. However, Burke reiterates that taking care of one’s mental health is an ongoing process, especially because nobody really knows when it might hit them again.
“Everything could be going really well. Then you wake up in the morning and you feel a bit blue. That’s completely normal. I have a few days here and there when I’m not feeling well. But I have the tools and the resources to go out and speak to people” Burke said.
“When you are in depression, you don’t want to burden people with your problems. But that is not true. People really want to listen. They really want to help.”
Burke says that speaking about feelings is something that can be improved with time.
“It’s similar to going to the gym to get stronger. When you talk about how you’re feeling, you get better at it. You get comfortable sharing stuff.”
He wants people to know that there is “no shame” in asking for support.
“For me, it is important to break this stigma around men’s mental health,” Burke said.
“The big benefit of ‘R U OK’ is being able to put this message out there.”
“You don’t have to walk this path of depression alone. If you call for help, there is a whole army who can come and back you up.”
If you feel distressed reading this story, support services are available. For 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
