Hinting NEVER works. If they are so oblivious to be willing to figure out what they can do to solve their problem they are oblivious to hints,

Besides their mind is totally consumed with their issue & it becomes their identity. Only being kindly straight forward about how they are affecting the people around them will they even possibly hear & get it. Their thoughts on their problem block out everything else unless almost using a baseball bat to get their attention.....then let them know "THERE WILL BE NO MORE talk of that around me.....have had enough period!!!! It's called setting boundaries.