R U OK? Day came round at Pacific Hills Christian School recently, and the school community joined thousands of Australians in taking part. Most of us know what it feels like when the world won’t slow down.
For young people, it comes with marks to chase, expectations from friends, screens that never switch off and more information than anyone can sort through.
Technology has given them a great deal. It has also made it easier to compare yourself with everyone else, to feel anxious, and to end up alone in a crowded room without anyone noticing.
That is why the school treats conversations about mental health as more pressing than ever. That day, students worked through activities and discussions, then had the kind of conversations no worksheet can prompt. They were encouraged to turn to the person next to them and check in.
It sounds almost too small to matter. But the school’s point is that a simple question can profoundly affect the person hearing it. “Are you OK?” is more than a slogan on a poster. It tells someone they are seen, valued, and that someone is willing to stop and support them.
The deeper message went further than the question itself. Students were reminded that who they are is not settled by a report card, a sporting win, a follower count or someone else’s opinion. At Pacific Hills, the answer is rooted in faith: each young person is known and loved by God, and nothing on a screen or a scoreboard can change that.
