The announcement from the Sydney Swans that their star forward Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin would miss out on the AFL final due to an “ongoing mental health condition” has attracted an outpouring of messages of support and encouragement on social media.
The announcement made headlines just days ahead of national R U OK? Day, dedicated to preventing suicide by encouraging people to make more effort to have regular, meaningful conversations with anyone who may be struggling with mental health issues.
Campaign director of R U OK? Rebecca Lewis said it was a positive thing for people of high profiles to share their struggles.
“Hopefully it helps people find the way to articulate what they’re going through,” Ms Lewis said.
But she said that while initial tweets of support can be a quick fix, the emphasis should be about ongoing care and support.
“There’s only so far you can go with 140 characters,” she said.
“It’s important that, after their initial outpouring of support, we remember to check in with them.
“Social media is the starting point for a conversation but it’s not the only way to have a conversation.”
R U OK? aims to act as a reminder to start a conversation on any given day with someone who might be struggling.
Ms Lewis said while social media was an important platform in creating awareness and helped to normalise mental health as an issue for discussion, any significant change needed to go beyond that.
“It’s a brilliant way to bring to life a particular issue and the need for society to pay attention, but if we’re talking about significant social change, it’s about picking up the phone and having a connection,” she said.
“It’s an incredibly important platform in creating awareness and to normalise [mental health] as an issue for discussion.”