Something is wrong with the person two desks over. They haven't said anything. You're not sure what you're supposed to do. You do it anyway.
Part of
Mental Health Conversations →
From checking in on a colleague who seems off, to telling your manager you are burning out, to supporting a friend in crisis — practice the conversations that most people avoid until it is too late.
Skills you'll build
What happens in this story4 scenarios
The person at the next desk has been off for weeks. Quieter. Later to meetings. Shorter in messages. You're not a therapist and this isn't your job — but you can see something the rest of the team can't.
You walk over and ask if they're okay. The question is simple. Getting it right — the tone, the timing, the lack of pressure — is anything but.
They start talking. It's heavier than you expected. Every instinct says to offer solutions, suggest therapy, fix something — but the bravest thing you can do right now is just stay.
You can't carry this for them. But you can help them find the next step — a resource, a conversation, a professional — without making them feel like a problem to be solved.
More stories in this course
View all →The Burnout Conversation
You are the one running on empty. Six months of not saying it. Today you are going to tell your manager. Practice finding the words.
4 scenarios →The Friend in Crisis
Your closest friend is not okay. They have been messaging you at 2am. You don't know what to say — but you know saying nothing is not an option.
4 scenarios →The Manager's Responsibility
One of your best people is struggling. You can feel it. HR says it's not your problem. You know better than that.
4 scenarios →The Colleague in Crisis
Something is wrong with the person two desks over. They haven't said anything. You're not sure what you're supposed to do. You do it anyway.
Start free →4 scenarios · 25 min · No account required to try