Ally Langdon & Maryanne Larkin: The Friendship Behind R U OK? Day

Content Warning: This episode discusses suicide, mental health issues, grief and the loss of a parent and child to illness. If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised, help is always available. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14.  Find more support services here: Need help? Support services and crisis helplines in Australia - The Australian Women's Weekly  In 2009, Gavin Larkin sat his wife Maryanne and their closest friends down at the dinner table and told them about an idea he'd been carrying since his own father died by suicide years earlier. It was a simple question that could change everything: "Are you okay?"  Allison "Ally" Langdon, a journalist and friend who was part of that conversation, knew instantly she had to help get the message out. What followed was R U OK? Day which has since grown into a national movement. But what followed was something that neither Ally nor Maryanne could have imagined.  In this episode, Ally and Maryanne sit down with Tiffany Dunk to talk about the early, uncomfortable days of getting a newsroom to even say the word "suicide," what it actually looked like for Ally to show up for her friend in the hardest years of her life, and the quiet, everyday ways two women have held a friendship together, and a legacy alive, for close to two decades.  Moments you'll hear:  The dinner table conversation in 2009 that became R U OK? Day  Why newsrooms wouldn't touch the word "suicide," and the pushback Ally got  Maryanne on losing both Gavin and her eldest son Gus, and why moving into her late son's bedroom with her two younger kids helped them all grieve  The small, practical ways Ally and their friend group showed up during the hardest years  What it means to keep telling stories about someone you've lost  Nearly 20 years on, what they still hope for each other  Visit the R U OK? Day website here.  Learn more about Ally and Maryanne's friendship in our exclusive interview here Thank you for listening ❤️  Before you leave...  🗣️ Get in touch  What did you think? We are a brand-new podcast and would love to hear from you as we build this together. Join our friendly Love Stories community and visit us at womensweekly.com.au  Email us your love stories (and any feedback) at [email protected]  If you share your love story on social media please tag us, we're @womensweeklymag, and use the hashtag #AWWLoveStories  Subscribe to The Australian Women's Weekly at www.womensweekly.com.au 👈🏽  Our special thanks to our partners at Vixin  Vixin real results, simple skincare that's a little bit fancy: vixin.com.au  Use the code LOVESTORIES for 30% off your order at Vixin now!  Sending thanks to our partners at Wounded Heroes.  You can help Wounded Heroes deliver emergency assistance to current Australian Defence Force members, veterans and their families by donating at: www.woundedheroes.org.au/actsofservice  Credits  Host: Tiffany Dunk  Edited by Phoebe Zukowski-Wallace  Production by Leah Porges  Our wonderful The Australian Women's Weekly team  Our Head of Vodcasting is Rachel Fountain  Learn More: The Australian Women's Weekly website. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.