"So what are the signs that someone is not ok?" asks the well meaning lady.
They look unhappy. Theyre quiet. they stomp their feet. They come in late. They dont get much sleep. A few other banal examples are reeled off. Some guy Ive never seen before nibbles at his muffin.
"Maybe they even work too much. Maybe they spend less time doing things important to them! Maybe they feel silenced and withdrawn! Has anyone ever witnessed this?"
Everyone stares at her blankly. One guy takes a bite of his quiche.
"And i know its hard to talk about, but its not a matter of doing a risk assesment - are they/arent they suicidal? should I talk to them? Yes! Yes you should talk to them! Find out what is going on! Who here feel comfortable about talking to people who seem suicidal?" one person puts their hand up. "Just one! Well we all need to watch out for our colleagues. We all need to notice if they seem tired and withdrawn!"
She's meant to be staying under the radar and not attracting attention. Any attention. She's not meant to speak at meetings or join new commmittees or meet people and say where she is from or be photographed at events. Try and go.. unnoticed for a bit. Just stay off the radar! was the request. Just lay low. I dont want to hear your name mentioned in meetings anymore. I dont want people telling me what you said or did or where they saw you. Still, hearing this farcical pep talk is both p*ssing her off and making her want to cry. She cant resist.
"Lawyers top themselves all the time. ALL THE TIME. The last couple who did it were in Sydney. Everyone said they seemed fine. One dude was apparently 'the life of the party'. If someone around here was feeling that way I highly doubt they would show it at work. Tired, withdrawn people who come in late do not make good corporate lawyers. There are no tired and withdrawn people here. Everyone here seems fine. Conundrum."
She walks off to the sound of Quiche Guy joking to the person next to him "are you ok?" Chortle chorlte.
