Australians are being urged to look after their mates' mental health.
This year has been difficult to say the least and even though restrictions have eased for people across the country (sorry NSW), people's mental ability to open up might not be as quick.
Gotcha4Life has reignited the Mind Your Mate initiative in Australia today (December 21) and it aims to remind people to touch base with their pals every now and then.
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We have several dates on the calendar where this is reinforced, however Mind Your Mate wants you to regularly ask your friends how they're doing.
New statistics found one in 10 Australians contemplated suicide this year due to the toll of the coronavirus pandemic.
There were 12 per cent of Australian men and nine per cent of women who had suicidal thoughts and nearly 40 per cent said they felt significantly more mental strain and stress as a result of the virus.
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Gotcha4Life's founder, Gus Worland, said in a statement: "2020 has been an incredibly tough year for so many of us, therefore it is more crucial than ever to build mental fitness in ourselves and our loved ones. Think of it as the mind's equivalent of hitting the gym - if you don't work it out regularly you will not reap the benefits.
"We are creating a world where we can seek help when life gets challenging, where we can build open and honest relationships and feel comfortable expressing ourselves, no matter what."
Their study found men were more likely stressed about their job security while women were particularly upset about not getting to see loved ones.
Aussies have found solace in exercising as a way to cope with the stress and anxiety and some have spoken to their doctor or counsellor about trying to overcome their worries.
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So come on Australia, help out your mates because you never know who is struggling until you ask how they're doing.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Australia