NSW Ambulance responds to more than 3300 Triple Zero (000) calls every day, getting help to people who are not “OK”.
Today, R U OK? Day, we are urging the public to ask the important question – “R U OK?”
Our call takers are highly trained and on average answer one call every 25.9 seconds.
Many of these calls come from families, friends or colleagues who are concerned for the safety of a person suffering a mental health issue or injured as a result. In fact, NSW Ambulance identified more than 60,000 calls were mental health related.
This year, NSW Ambulance Senior Chaplain Paul McFarlane is an R U OK? Day Ambassador. Reverend McFarlane regularly asks people in the community and within NSW Ambulance if they are OK, and urges everyone to start this conversation not just today, but every day.
“We would like to see the community get the right help at the right time to avoid the trauma of calling for ambulance paramedics when a mental health issue or emotional concern has exacerbated,” he said.
“Young people may seem to have lots of ‘friends’ on social media but still not have a mate to reach out to or meet up with for a coffee when they’re struggling.
“If you are noticing someone is struggling, don’t open an online chat, get on the phone and call your friend. Even better, ask to meet them in person.”
NSW Ambulance uses a range of tools to support staff and make sure they are OK every day.
“At NSW Ambulance we try and keep a close eye on our mates because we are like a family and we want to be there for each other during the tough times,” Rev McFarlane said.
Rev McFarlane suggested if you believed something was worrying a friend at work, start a conversation to see if they were OK. If they were not, listen and help them think about what could be done to make life easier.
Samantha McAlpine, a Triple Zero (000) call taker at Sydney Control said she liked knowing she was on the other end of the phone helping somebody in a time of medical need.
“Some of these calls are from people who are experiencing a mental health problem and they do require urgent medical assistance,” Ms McAlpine said.
“I hope, by what we are talking about today, we can encourage people to build more extensive networks of friends, colleagues and mates and pick up the phone and ask R U OK?, not just today but every day.”
For more information on how to start a conversation that could change a life, visit
www.ruokday.com/work.