The Crows are challenging South Australians to go the distance and ask each other ‘Are you OK?’ to reduce suicide in Australia.
In support of national suicide prevention organisation the ‘R U OK? Foundation’, the Adelaide team, led by coach Brenton Sanderson and chief operating officer Nigel Smart, launched a bright yellow Question Mark with an inbuilt GPS tracking device at AAMI Stadium.
It is one of five Question Marks being launched across Australia by the R U OK? Foundation on Thursday in a bid to see how far Australians will go to ask someone ‘Are you OK?’
Smart said suicide is a national issue and asking the question is one way to help a mate.
"People automatically ask ‘Are you OK?’ when someone has a physical injury in high-level sport like AFL, but don’t necessarily ask when someone is struggling with life,” he said.
“By supporting this campaign, we hope to encourage members of the community to understand the importance of looking out for each other and staying in touch.”
The total distance travelled by all five Question Marks will be shared on R U OK? Day on September 12.
R U OK? CEO and co-founder Janina Nearn said the campaign aimed to encourage as many people as possible to ask the question of people in their community.
“We want to inspire people to have regular and meaningful conversations by asking ‘Are you OK?’” she said.
“Everyone can ask someone to help make a difference and potentially save a life.”
The Question Marks include written tips to guide people as to how to share the Question Mark and its journey with another community or individual in a 24-hour period. Each journey will be tracked on ruokday.com and shared via digital media so that anyone can get involved.
“If you are given a giant Question Mark, make sure you pass it onto someone who will continue to spread the R U OK? message,” Nearn said.