“They Seemed Fine, Though”
Why it matters that we don’t all show our emotions in the same way
When you work in mental health, a big part of the job is assessing the mental state of other people. I work in a crisis response role, but I’m not a doctor or a therapist. We’re just people, helping other people. Anyone struggling with their mental health can telephone or walk-in and we’ll do our best to help them. This may mean giving them a safe space to talk, to call someone, to get information about other services. This potentially includes people with whom we have very little experience, so making judgments about how they’re feeling is tricky.
We need to predict what is going to happen next and in the near future based on what’s happening now, to prevent an escalating crisis and harm. When someone is fully lucid and calm, it’s possible to ask questions and gain an understanding that way. It becomes more difficult when someone is in crisis and unable to explain what they’re feeling and what’s happening to or for them.
If one of your close friends, or a member of your family, is displaying odd behavior or emotional distress, chances are, you’ll know how best to handle it. When you know them personally, it’s much easier to figure out what they need, even if they aren’t able to tell you. It’s very different when it’s a stranger, which…
