Health Stack Supports R U OK? Day By Showing How One Breath Can Unlock Better Mental Health For Australian Workplaces

By Julius Ewudo, Cyber Era NG ASEAN Region Representative

This R U OK? Day, fast-growing MedTech platform Health Stack is encouraging Australians to pause, connect, and breathe.

Held on the second Thursday of September, R U OK? Day, is an annual national day of action in Australia, that encourages everyone to reach out and have meaningful conversations with loved ones to support their mental health and well-being – because a conversation can change a life.

One of the core pillars of Health Stack’s data-driven injury prevention programmes for Australian workplaces is breathing education; equipping people with practical skills to manage stress, build resilience, and support mental health every day.

According to Health Stack founder James Fletcher, techniques such as nasal breathing and CO₂ tolerance drills help regulate the nervous system and improve stress management.

“R U OK? Day reminds us that checking in with others is vital-but it also highlights the need to equip ourselves with tools that make those tough days easier to manage,” said James Fletcher.

“Breathwork is one of the simplest, most effective ways to regulate stress and build long-term resilience. Structured breathing drills train the body and mind to adapt better to stress, increasing focus and recovery capacity, with simple practices like taking long exhale breaths, lowering heart rate and helping prepare the body for restorative sleep.

Health Stack’s team of health professionals—spanning physiotherapy, exercise physiology, psychology, and nutrition—are working with workplaces and individuals across Australia to embed these skills.

While conversations save lives, how we breathe shapes how we cope with stress, recover from daily pressures, and sleep deeply at night -playing a big role in assisting people cope with stressful situations.

R U OK? is a national suicide prevention charity and registered public health promotion that encourages people to stay connected and have conversations that can help others through difficult times -in 2025 it will be held on Thursday 11th September.

Their goal is to ensure people not only ask “R U OK?” but are also better prepared to handle life’s challenges with calm and clarity – click here to learn more about how your workplace can host an event or here to access free resources.