‘Are You OK?’ Campaign Improves Wellbeing But Not Treatment Uptake
What Happened
A new study examining nine years of Australian data found that R U OK? Day, the country's major mental health awareness campaign, produced a small but measurable improvement in self-reported mental wellbeing after the event. The positive impact was strongest among men aged 25-49.
Key Takeaways
While the campaign appears to improve how people feel in the short term, researchers found no increase in GP mental health treatment plans or mental health medication use, highlighting both the benefits and limitations of awareness campaigns.