Oklahoma’s ‘You good?’ campaign aims to spark mental health conversations
During National Suicide Prevention Month, Oklahoma is promoting the “You good?” campaign to encourage mental health conversations and connect people to the 988 crisis lifeline.
September marks National Suicide Prevention Month, and the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is launching the “You good?” campaign to make conversations about mental health and suicide prevention easier.
Derek LeMaster, director at Solari, emphasized the importance of simple connections.
“Something that simple works because we’re all human and we really all thrive on connection,” LeMaster said.
“Just checking in and saying, ‘You good.’ It makes it that simple, and it really takes some of the complexity out of those conversations,” he said.
The campaign aims to address the ongoing impact of suicide across Oklahoma communities. From 2020 to 2024, statistics show that men account for the majority of suicide deaths in the state, and rural areas experience higher suicide rates compared to metro regions.
If someone answers “no” when asked, “You good?” there’s a simple number to remember: 988. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7, and people don’t have to wait for a crisis to reach out.
“Whatever it is that’s impacting you in a way that you feel you would benefit from having somebody else hear you and walk through that experience with you and get you to that next moment is the right time to call 988,” LeMaster said.
When calling or texting 988, individuals connect with someone in Oklahoma who can listen and help determine the support they need.
This month, the department encourages everyone to start the conversation. Remember two words and three numbers: “You good?” and 988.