R U OK? Day, held on 11 September, encourages us to check in with others by asking, ‘R U OK?’ This year's theme, R U OK? Any day, reflects the need to check in regularly because…life’s ups and downs happen to everyone!
Interestingly, the research reveals that those who regularly ask, ‘Are you okay?’ report increased feelings of wellbeing. Australians are heeding the message, with a third more reaching out compared to last year.
Evident across our homes and communities, our people are showing up in meaningful ways, organising activities that help to spark conversations with our residents, clients and colleagues helping them to feel seen, heard and valued.
While asking ‘the question’ is mutually beneficial for both parties, initiating conversations around how a person is feeling requires a level of comfort and confidence. This is where Mood Mentors comes in.
The Mood Mentors program upskills volunteers to identify low mood in themselves and others and encourages value-based activities as an antidote. Launched at Catholic Healthcare’s McQuoin Park and St Hedwig Village in 2023/2024, St Hedwig Village retirement living resident volunteers have now also completed the program.
A St Hedwig Village resident volunteer said of Mood Mentors, ‘It’s not high pressure or too technical. Now, if I see someone who is under a lot of stress, I feel confident to ask them if they are okay.
Another said, ‘The program has helped me a lot, I used to think negatively about things, now I recognise the signs.’ So much so, since finishing the program, she is putting herself forward to volunteer at St Hedwig’s residential care.
With around 16% of older Australians aged over 65 experience loneliness, and 11% are socially isolated1, living in residential care can potentially contribute to these feelings of loneliness and social isolation2.
The comorbidities of loneliness and social isolation are intractably linked to poorer cognitive function3 and physical and mental health, with research suggesting this may increase the risk of premature death.4
The Mood Mentors program is helping to address these challenges by fostering connections among those already living in retirement communities or residential care, creating opportunities for support and companionship from within.
‘The Mood Mentors program empowers people to notice when someone may be struggling and gives them the practical skills to recognise the signs and reach out with genuine, meaningful support,’ said Helen Fredericks, Program Manager for Model of Care at Catholic Healthcare.
‘It’s about building confidence to connect with another and to listen without judgment or trying to fix their problems. This can be as simple as sharing a cup of tea, or offering to stroll through the garden together, especially if that’s something the person used to enjoy,’ she said.
Through programs like Mood Mentors, and with its messaging aligning closely with this year’s R U OK? Day Any Day, Catholic Healthcare remains committed to building a culture where mental wellbeing is prioritised for our residents, clients, and employees.
If you would like to find out more about retirement living, visit St Hedwig here.
References
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW 2024)https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/older-people/older-australians/contents/health/health-disability-status
- Loneliness and Social Isolation in Aged Care https://www.ausmed.com.au/learn/articles/loneliness-and-social-isolation-aged-care
- The Impact of Loneliness and Social Isolation on Cognitive Aging https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10357115/#:~:text=In%20attempt%20to%20minimize%20this,to%20dementia%20development%20and%20diagnosis.
- Health effects of social isolation and loneliness, Centre for Disease Control, updated insights 2024 https://www.cdc.gov/social-connectedness/risk-factors/index.html