"R U OK?" Olympian Muki and Israel’s First Lady call for more open conversations on mental health
“In recent years, we have all become ‘champions’ in this country,” Herzog said at the event. “Times have become challenging and turbulent, and we all show strong sides.”
World champion and Olympic medalist Sagi Muki and Israel’s First Lady, Michal Herzog, joined a special event at the President’s Residence on Tuesday to promote open conversations about mental health ahead of Israel’s fifth R U OK? Day.
The event, organized by Enosh, Israel’s mental health association, focused on the tendency to keep functioning and tell others “I’m fine” even when things are difficult behind the scenes.
Under this year’s theme, “Champions Need a Conversation Too,” Muki and Herzog discussed the gap between how people appear on the outside and how they may actually be feeling. The campaign aims to emphasize that even people who seem strong, successful and fully functional may be struggling and need someone to stop and genuinely ask how they are doing.
R U OK? Day is designed to encourage people to recognize signs of emotional distress among those around them and to start meaningful conversations. Organizers stress that people do not need to be mental health professionals or have solutions in order to help. Simply showing genuine interest and listening can make a significant difference.
Muki, who has spoken publicly about his own struggles, is leading this year's campaign, using his experience as an elite athlete to highlight the pressures faced by people who are often perceived as strong.
“In recent years, we have all become ‘champions’ in this country,” Herzog said at the event. “Times have become challenging and turbulent, and we all show strong sides.”
“But we all also have moments of crisis, and it is not a weakness to admit it — on the contrary,” she added.
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Herzog said that when someone like Muki, a world champion, openly acknowledges that he is also struggling, “he gives other people a place to ask for help.”
She also stressed the importance of paying attention to those around us. “The mere interest helps. It is so simple and so important,” Herzog said.
Dr. Hela Hadas, CEO of Enosh, said that Israelis have learned in recent years to keep going despite a difficult reality, often insisting that they are fine even when they are not.
“Strength and functioning do not mean that there is no difficulty,” Hadas said. “Sometimes it is precisely those who seem to us the strongest who need someone to stop and really ask them how they are doing.”
She said the message behind this year’s campaign is that people do not need to be therapists or know how to solve another person’s problems. “Sometimes one question, genuine interest and listening can make a significant difference,” she said.
R U OK? Day will take place across Israel on September 3. The initiative will offer the public practical tools for identifying signs of distress, showing concern and starting supportive conversations with friends, family members, colleagues and others in their communities.
The campaign's central message is simple: appearing strong does not mean that everything is okay — and sometimes, asking the right question can be the first step toward getting help.