RUOK? Day moves to Friday, March 24, from 12-3 p.m. in the Performance Hall of the Ohio Union.


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There is a small number of events at The Ohio State University that have earned the distinction of “signature event.” That is, an event planned entirely by students that has the potential to attract more than 1,000 students, all while enhancing social and community engagement for all students at the university. One of these events is RUOK? Day, held this year on Friday, March 24, from 12-3 p.m. in the Performance Hall of the Ohio Union.


“The university recognizes that we need an event of this nature, something that invites people into a conversation about mental health,” said Laura Lewis, assistant director of The Ohio State University Suicide Prevention Program (OSUSPP).


RUOK? Day is led by the Buckeye Campaign Against Suicide (BCAS), a student group that works with OSUSPP. The goal is for attendees to learn how to talk about mental health and suicide, and to feel comfortable reaching out to someone who needs help.

The event is free to attend and requires no registration, just an open mind and a willingness to learn, Lewis said. There are five sections, each one represented by a letter or the question mark in RUOK? The letters stand for:
  • R – Resources in the community
  • U – University offices and resources
  • O – Student organizations
  • K – Knowledge
  • ? – Asking difficult questions
“We’re trying to arm people with some confidence and some competence and willingness to engage,” she said. “When they leave the event, we hope they won’t be as afraid to open up. A conversation can save a life.”


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