A new book is encouraging starting important conversations from a young age, and hoping to equip children and youth with the tools to do so.

Western Australia's Kimberley has one of the highest suicide rates in the world.

It's an issue that significantly impacts young people, and First Nations young people particularly.

This is something close to home for Djukun language specialist and author of 'Are You OK Today?', Jaala Ozies.

Ms Ozies launched the book ahead of R U OK? Day, a mental health initiative urging people to check in on those around them and spark opportunities for honest conversations celebrated annually on the second Thursday of September.

It also prompts these conversations to be had all-year round.

In the book, Wangadi the crow visits his friends, others animals found around Broome, to ask "a simple but powerful question: are you ok?".

"This act of kindness hopefully encourages and empowers children to start a conversation and speak out about any issues they may be experiencing," Ms Ozies told National Indigenous Times.

She said young people may not have the skillsets to communicate their needs effectively.

The book hopes to be a fun and engaging resource to support this, talk about their feelings and offer some practical skills for if they or someone close to them is having some challenges.

Ms Ozies hopes her book can find itself in every school across the country and help start critical conversations.

Around her home in the Kimberley, the impacts of a deeply concerning problem is known all too well.

"In the Kimberley we experience some of the highest rates of Indigenous youth suicide in the world and this is concerning," she said.

"We need to continue the conversation about suicide prevention in order to raise much needed awareness. More importantly we need to remember the profound impact that suicide has on individuals, families and communities who are still trying to heal."

The book also plays a part in Djukun language revitalisation efforts.

Ms Ozies has been at the forefront of its survival, and embeds language into her book.

Readers are introduced to the names of animals in-language as Wangadi visits them, with the new works accompanied with pronunciation guides.

Wangardi sees his friends Garrabooloo (the kangaroo), Barni (yellow-spotted monitor), joorroo (snake), Winini (emu), Goolibil (the turtle), and Jalingmar (the pelican, a Djukan jalnga or totem).

Ms Ozies is the coordinator of the Djukun language revitalisation project, helping survive what she explained has become almost extinct and an identity culturally important to the Broome region.

"I had to help my community explore practical ways of teaching the next generation so I turned to writing children's books. I have weaved my social work skills into creating important messages and incorporated Djukun language words in the book."

"I have fond memories of growing up on Djukun Country speaking my language. We need to continue to teach our language to the younger generation, as they will be the ones to carry our language forward into the future."

Her revitalisation efforts have been included in the University of Melbourne-led, First Nations community and people-driven language revitalisation 50 Words Project, which earlier this year reached a milestone of documenting 100 First Nations languages.

Ms Ozies has already taken 'Are You OK Today?' to different parts of the country, launching the book with community members, friends and supporters in Magandjin (Brisbane) ahead of R U OK? Day.

'This book is dedicated to those who check on their friends and their own feelings.

You never know how someone is feeling, until you check on them,' opening text reads.