Man behind RUOK? dies

The suicide prevention campaigner Gavin Larkin, founder of RUOK? Day, has died after a 19-month battle with lymphoma. He was 42.

The father-of-three died at his Coogee home on Wednesday, a week after the third annual RUOK? Day, which aims to prevent suicide by encouraging people to connect with each other. He was a successful advertising executive before he launched RUOK?, spurred on by his father’s suicide.

”I had all of the trophies and a lot of success but not a lot of joy,” he told ABC TV’s Australian Story recently.

”I was pretty depressed and I was concerned because my father had taken his own life 15 years before. I was worried if I didn’t [sort out my problems] I might be considering what he did.”

Mr Larkin is survived by his wife, Maryanne, and children, Gus, Josie and Van. Gus’s battle with a malignant cancer was explored in Australian Story. His father said his son’s bravery gave him strength in his own battle.

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