Gloria Jean’s Coffees backs Gavin Larkin’s R U Okay? Day
Coffee house brand Gloria Jean’s has today announced its support of R U Okay? Day, the suicide prevention initiative founded by former CEO of The Brand Shop Gavin Larkin.
From today for a month all Gloria Jean’s stores around Australia will host a series of in-store promotions and events providing support and information for those at risk and also raising awareness of the day.
Such activity will include the distribution of information cards to customers on Thursday – the official R U Okay? Day.
Nabi Saleh, executive chairman of Gloria Jean’s Coffees International said: “We urge all Australians to start a conversation and connect with their family, friends, colleagues and loved ones. A simple conversation over a coffee, can in fact help to change a life.”
Founder Gavin Larkin was the focus of the ABC’s Australian Story last night.
And Starbucks backs a “Don’t Ask” day.
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I didn’t see Australian Story and don’t know much about Gloria Jeans- but I do hope Gloria Jeans doesn’t have strange beliefs about mental health – or the goal of recruiting vulnerable people to religion. Although, this may be a PR move to change perceptions about their connection to Hill Song.
http://www.news.com.au/top-sto.....1115815321
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I don’t really care what charity or good cause Gloria Jeans back – their links to the Hillsong Church ensure I’ll never buy a coffee from there – substandard coffee, it has to be said.
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The linking of religion and mental health is entirely inappropriate. People seeking help don’t need religion, they don’t need barriers or disincentives to make contact and they don’t need conditional ‘love’ or happy clapping. They need objective non judgemental listening and understanding and they are unlikely to find it at Gloria Jeans and even more unlikely to find it at Hillsong.
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What I do find interesting, (and I don’t drink coffee) is that everyone I know refuses to buy from Gloria Jeans due to their religious link. (the same people seem to have no issue with Sanitarium, but that is a story for another day).
However the business seems to do quite well and has good distribution and seemingly good marketing skills, maybe catering to religious folk can be good for business. And I love the RU OK idea, but like others I just get a bit nervous when god botherers start getting involved.
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Yes, I get concerned when anyone starts to impose their beliefs on anyone else, however after attending numerous Gloria Jeans – there is no attempt to do this – Get a grip.
What can possibly be wrong with a cup of coffee with a friend to discuss R U OK – Brilliant, all for it, how about free refils if the coffee is going into an R U OK cup?
Just my 2c.
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The whole ‘God’ & GJC” thing is so not correct. But thats a whole other story.
I think it makes sense that you would catch up with someone over a cuppa coffee & ask ‘R U OK?’.
and why are people so hateful on biz’s supporting charity?
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The decision to sledge a company supporting a clearly worthwhile charity should not be taken lightly but it appears to have been kneejerk reaction in this case.
Kate, Chris, Groucho and the Missus, you really need to get a grip on your own prejudice. Just because GJ’s is owned by happy clappers doesnt mean they try to convert their customers, and the idea that they might be appropriating R U Ok day to their evil Christian ends is baseless. They’re not Scientologists, after all.
Have you countenanced the possibility that, however flawed they may be, they might be actually caring enough about mental illness to want to help raise awareness?
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Is anyone else dreading R U Ok day? What if someone ask’s me?! To anyone thinking about it, I’m good, real good and have luckily never suffered depression – I just get pissed off with crap ads being spruiked by over-hyped big agencies on Mumbrella.
Seriously though, sounds like a brilliant idea but when you think it through…how would you really feel, I mean really feel, approaching a workmate on that day and saying are you ok? And what if several people approach the poor bastard? Know what I mean?
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Bob if you Google ‘Mercy Ministries’ and see the uncontested reports, look at the history of links between Gloria Jeans, Mercy Ministries and Hillsong you might come to the conclusion the the confluence of Gloria Jeans, mental health and vulnerable kids is an unwholesome one. You might also ask yourself if the risk is worthwhile.
Hillsong is not Scientology of course, but why do you feel the need to mention it?
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Gavin Larkin, the founder of RUOK? sadly passed away yesterday after a long and brave battle. In his honour today please call someone you know who may be struggling and doing it tough and ask them RUOK?…then just listen.
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I don’t go to Hillsong anymore. I went for years and ended up feeling so rejected and uncared for by the church when I went to them (three times) for prayer and support. Hillsong was dismissive of me. This is wrong! A church should care about people going through difficult times, not blame it on their life choices made before they found Jesus and were saved. Now I find it ironic theyre getting on board with RUOK day when thanks to Hillsong’s rejecting and dismissive attitude I seriously contemplate ending my life by suicide. I can’t go on with so much stress and pressure in my life. Thanks for nothing Hillsong. This church likes to appear big and helpful just so it can get more people in its doors. The reality is Hillsong do NOT CARE when someone is in desperate need of help and support. HILLSONG IS JUST WRONG. I get more support from a 5 minute phonecall to the Salvo helpline than I ever got from Hillsong’s so-called pastors.
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