ARE THEY REALLY OK?  Australian actor Steve Bastoni urges us to dig deeper 

genU Training student Steve Bastoni is no stranger to the spotlight, having starred in some of Australia’s most eminent television shows such as Neighbours, Underbelly and Wentworth.
 
As an ambassador for R U OK? Day, Steve has used his publicity as a platform to raise awareness of mental health and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.

“In these trying times with COVID, it is important to stay connected,” he says. 
 
Steve acknowledges that asking whether someone is OK is not always easy, but his simple steps initiate natural conversations and allow us to delve further into the struggles someone may be facing:
 
1. Ask ‘R U OK?’.
2. Listen with an open mind.
3. Encourage action.
4. Check in. 

“This year, in particular, we want to ask ‘R U REALLY OK?’,” Steve says. “We want to encourage people to speak their truth.”

For more tips on reaching out and having a conversation that could change a life, head to the R U OK? website.