R U OK? Day is a significant day event in Australia, offering workplaces a chance to foster genuine connections, raise mental health awareness, and build a supportive business culture.
In this guide, we offer a wide range of ‘Are You OK Day’ ideas for team building. From in-person activities to virtual engagement, these activities ensure every team member feels involved and supported. Whether you’re planning a morning tea, a virtual get-together, or looking to embed mental well-being into your workplace culture permanently, you’ll find actionable strategies, templates, and real-world examples to help you create lasting impact.
Key Takeaways
- R U OK? Day is an opportunity, not just an occasion. It's a chance to genuinely strengthen workplace culture and build the psychological safety needed for real mental health conversations.
- The ALEC model (Ask, Listen, Encourage, Check-in) gives employees a practical framework to navigate mental health discussions confidently, without fear of saying the wrong thing.
- Activities like LEGO® Serious Play®, Bike Brigade, and Amazing Race break down barriers and create the connection and trust that make "are you OK?" conversations feel natural rather than forced.
- R U OK? Day works best as a launchpad for year-round wellbeing initiatives — regular check-ins, EAP promotion, quarterly workshops, and ongoing volunteering days all help maintain momentum.
- Not everyone engages the same way. Offering a range of activities — from morning teas to charity events to outdoor challenges — ensures no one is left on the sidelines.
What is R U OK? Day?
R U OK? Day is observed every year on the second Thursday of September. It’s a national day of action to check in with friends, colleagues, and loved ones by asking the important question: “Are you OK?” The day encourages open and meaningful conversations about mental health, aiming to break down stigma and empower people to support one another through life’s challenges.
R U OK? Day is especially important for businesses, where stress, anxiety, change, and isolation can affect mental well-being in the office. Integrating “are you okay day” messages into team-building activities helps normalise talking about mental health and creates a supportive environment for everyone — extending these discussions beyond the office to include family, friends and personal support networks.
The Importance of Mental Health Conversations at Work
R U OK? Day highlights the power of simple, genuine conversations. In the workplace, these discussions can help colleagues feel seen and less alone during tough times. Understanding the importance of creating space for open dialogue can transform your team culture.
Open dialogue about mental health:
- Reduces stigma and normalises seeking help
- Builds trust and strengthens workplace culture
- Enables early intervention and recovery
Common Barriers:
- Fear of saying the wrong thing
- Stigma around mental health challenges
- Lack of confidence or training
The ALEC Model: How to Have a Meaningful Conversation
The ALEC model is a practical framework for supportive R U OK? discussions at work. It stands for:
- Ask: Start the conversation with care — ask “R U OK?”
- Listen: Give your full attention, without judgment or interruption
- Encourage Action: Suggest next steps, such as speaking to a professional or accessing support
- Check-in: Follow up in the days or weeks after your initial chat
Step-by-Step Guide
- Ask: Choose a relaxed atmosphere (e.g., over a coffee or during a walk). Use open-ended questions: “I’ve noticed you seem a bit down lately — are you OK?”
- Listen: Let them share at their own pace. Use active listening — nod, maintain eye contact, and avoid offering solutions too quickly.
- Encourage Action: If they’re struggling, gently suggest resources: “Have you thought about speaking to our EAP or your GP?”
- Check-in: Schedule a follow-up: “Let’s catch up again next week. I’m here if you want to talk.”
Team-Building Activity Ideas for R U OK? Day
R U OK? Day isn’t just about wearing yellow and sharing morning tea – it’s your opportunity to strengthen workplace culture and build genuine trust among your team. When you combine mental health awareness with purposeful team building, you create lasting change that extends well beyond a single day.
Team building activities break down barriers, normalise talking about tough times, and help everyone feel genuinely connected to their workplace community. Your team deserves more than conversation starters and posters. They need real experiences that build confidence, foster authentic connection, and create the psychological safety needed for those important “Are you OK?” moments.
1. Morning Tea
Start your R U OK? Day with energy and purpose by hosting a company-wide morning tea. After sharing tea and baked goods, organise an activity that breaks down barriers, normalises being open with colleagues, and helps everyone feel genuinely connected to their workplace community.
Our Battle of the Minds challenge combines problem-solving with team collaboration, creating natural conversation opportunities while teams work together. This indoor activity suits any office environment and gets everyone engaged from the first moment.
Our LEGO® Serious Play® Workshops provide a unique approach to R U OK? Day. Using LEGO® as a communication tool, teams explore workplace challenges, share experiences, and build trust in a relaxed atmosphere. This facilitated workshop helps normalise talking about feelings while developing practical strategies for workplace wellbeing.
2. Wellness Workshop with Guest Speaker
Invite a mental health professional or lived-experience speaker to share advice on resilience and wellness. Their presentation can provide valuable insights and practical strategies for your team. Following on from this presentation, organise a charity or CSR event for your team – nothing builds connection like working together for a cause.
Our Bike Brigade program has teams assembling bicycles for disadvantaged children – combining teamwork with real community impact. Alternatively, Helping Hands sees your team creating prosthetic hands for landmine victims. These charity events naturally encourage meaningful conversations while your team makes a tangible difference.
3. Team Lunch
Get out of the office for a team lunch, changing not just the environment but also the dynamics. After a friendly team lunch, take your team beyond the boardroom with our Amazing Race challenge. This outdoor team-building event brings colleagues together, challenges them to solve problems under pressure, and celebrates their successes. The shared adventure creates lasting bonds and opens natural pathways for ongoing support.
With professional facilitation, themed rounds, and team challenges, it’s an ideal way to celebrate your workplace culture while reinforcing the day’s mental health messages.
Pro tip: Organise activities that align with your group’s interests and comfort levels. Not everyone will want to participate in every activity, and that’s okay — the goal is to create multiple pathways to connect.
Integrating R U OK? Day into Year-Round Wellbeing Initiatives
To create meaningful impact, R U OK? Day should be part of a broader wellbeing strategy. Consider how you can organise ongoing initiatives throughout the year to maintain momentum.
Ongoing Engagement Ideas
Checklist: Creating a Supportive Environment
- Display R U OK? Posters and materials in common areas and quiet conversation corners
- Train leaders in mental health first aid and the ALEC model
- Encourage regular check-ins and open feedback
- Promote your Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Make wellness conversations a regular part of your workplace empowers employees to support each other and build resilience together.
- Organise monthly check-ins using the ALEC model
- Encourage staff to visit each other’s workspaces or meet for casual catch-ups to strengthen cross-team relationships
Year-Round Initiatives
- Quarterly workshops on resilience, meditation sessions, stress management, or mindfulness. Consider incorporating team-building workshops to support ongoing wellness and professional development.
- Ongoing access to EAP and wellness resources
- Stay connected by organising volunteering days to build community connections
Making a Lasting Impact Beyond R U OK? Day
Implementing these R U OK? Day initiatives can transform your team environment, where meaningful discussions, raising awareness, and strong relationships are the norm and provide support. Remember to ask “Are you OK?” — not just on R U OK? Day, but every day.
Use this practical guide to start planning your next R U OK? Day event, and discover how Beyond the Boardroom’s tailored team-building experiences can provide ongoing support for your group’s mental wellbeing. Contact our team today!
