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Rail’s R U OK? day “a great blueprint for other sectors”

(Left to Right) R U OK? chairman Mike Connaghan, ARA chief executive Bryan Nye, Sydney Trains chief executive Howard Collins, TrackSAFE chairman Bob Herbert, Minister for Health Sussan Ley, R U OK? ambassador Phil Waugh, NSW Trains chief executive Rob Mason. Photo: Oliver Probert

Suicide prevention charity R U OK? has hailed rail’s first R U OK?Day in April as a success, with general manager Brendan Maher saying rail is setting a standard for other sectors to follow.

Rail R U OK?Day was launched on April 16, at a ceremony at Sydney’s Central Station. Across the country, more than 20 industry stakeholders took part in events in over 60 locations.

Reviewing the inaugural event, the R U OK? organisation said, “as an industry affected too often by suicide and other trauma, Rail R U OK?Day was a great campaign to help remind workers about the importance of looking out for one another”.

R U OK? general manager Brendan Maher said an industry-led initiative is a strong way to encourage regular, meaningful conversations 365 days of the year.

“R U OK? is committed to working with industry to ensure that everyone who has the capacity to ask ‘are you okay?’ will do so,” Maher said.

“This campaign was embraced enthusiastically by senior management and provides a great blueprint for other sectors to follow suit.”

Rail R U OK?Day was launched in conjunction with the TrackSafe Foundation.

R U OK? community ambassador Justin Geange helped with the launch, speaking at a number of events in the lead-up to the inaugural day.

Geange, a former Queensland Rail worker, has inspired many with his own experience of surviving a suicide attempt, and his progress through a difficult stage of his life.