Ross Anna M, Bassilios Bridget
Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Global and Population Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC Australia.
Int J Ment Health Syst. 2019 Sep 14;13:61. doi: 10.1186/s13033-019-0317-4. eCollection 2019.
Suicide is a major public health concern and has been recognised as a public health priority. R U OK?Day aims to prevent suicide by encouraging and empowering Australians to reach out to friends and family who might be experiencing personal difficulties. This study aims to update the evaluation of the public awareness campaign 'R U OK?Day' that was conducted using 2014 data.
Data from 2013 participants were collected via an online survey following the R U OK?Day campaign implemented in 2017. Outcome measures included campaign awareness and participation, past 12-month help-seeking, helping beliefs, helping intentions and helping behaviours. Data were analysed using z-tests, Chi square and regression analyses in SPSS.
Both campaign awareness and participation have increased since 2014, from 66% and 19% to 78% and 32%. Campaign exposure was associated with stronger beliefs in the importance and the ease of asking "Are you okay?", and increased the likelihood of intentions to use recommended helping actions by two to three times compared to those not exposed to the campaign. Participants who were exposed to the R U OK?Day campaign were up to six times more likely to reach out to someone who might be experiencing personal difficulties compared to those not exposed to the campaign. Interestingly, those who had sought help from a mental health professional in the past 12 months were more likely to be aware of, and participate in, the campaign, suggesting people experiencing mental health issues recognise the value of seeking-and giving-social support.
The R U OK?Day campaign continues to be relevant and effective in spreading key messages about the importance of reaching out to others and empowering members of the community to have conversations about life problems. The campaign's impact is increasing over time through increased campaign awareness and participation, and improving helping beliefs, intentions and behaviours. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the campaign's impact is vital and may inform potential changes needed to further enhance its impact.
自杀是一个重大的公共卫生问题，已被视为公共卫生重点事项。“你还好吗？日”旨在通过鼓励和促使澳大利亚人向可能正经历个人困难的朋友和家人伸出援手来预防自杀。本研究旨在更新对2014年开展的“你还好吗？日”公众意识活动的评估。
在2017年开展“你还好吗？日”活动之后，通过在线调查收集了2013名参与者的数据。结果指标包括活动知晓度与参与度、过去12个月的求助情况、助人信念、助人意愿及助人行为。使用SPSS中的Z检验、卡方检验和回归分析对数据进行了分析。
自2014年以来，活动知晓度和参与度均有所提高，从66%和19%分别升至78%和32%。活动曝光与对询问“你还好吗？”的重要性和便利性的更强信念相关，与未接触该活动的人相比，接触活动者采取推荐的助人行动的意愿增加了两到三倍。与未接触“你还好吗？日”活动的参与者相比，接触该活动的参与者向可能正经历个人困难的人伸出援手的可能性高达六倍。有趣的是，那些在过去12个月里向心理健康专业人员求助过的人更有可能知晓并参与该活动，这表明有心理健康问题的人认识到寻求和给予社会支持的价值。
“你还好吗？日”活动在传播关于向他人伸出援手以及促使社区成员就生活问题展开对话的重要性的关键信息方面仍然具有相关性且行之有效。随着活动知晓度和参与度的提高，以及助人信念、意愿和行为的改善，该活动的影响正与日俱增。持续监测和评估该活动的影响至关重要，这可能为进一步增强其影响所需的潜在变革提供依据。
