This happened at my "work" place...

I was chatting with my coworkers and a person who used to help out was suddenly discussed. I should add that the people working there are those no one wants to hire because of social, mental or physical issues, so they are placed in a state work program.

Anyway, it seems like this person is now on leave after having spent time on a mental ward. Everyone was laughing, not really a mean laugh if you know what I mean, but like this was the funniest thing that happened in a long while. That she has been in the nut house.

I was thinking What is so unusual about that?... and that it could been one of them as well... I didn't really say anything but I need a good comeback if it comes up again.

Say, "who hasn't been there from here?" "Hey, ya mean the vacation spot, 3 meals that I don't have to make, veg out all day, avoid this place. Sounds good to me."

If it wasn't a mean laugh, they might have been laughing that it could have been one of them, kind of a laugh of relief that the "illness monster" picked someone else so they're safe for awhile.

Maybe a snappy comeback could be, "What, you think it couldn't just as well be one of us bums?" If you include yourself it won't sound "mean", they'll know you think of yourself as one of them too, are not "better" than they are.

Or, if someone appears to be laughing "at" the other person, point a finger at them and intone in a "scary" voice, "You could be next!"

If you just don't like the laughter, then say so, "Hey guys, lets not laugh at other people's expense, we've all been where s/he's at."

Yeah, I dunno what the context was but laughing at someone for being in a mental ward doesn't sound very cool to me. I would probably say something about it.

Ugh! That is not cool. It is my pet peeve when ppl throw around the words crazy, nuts, bipolar, mental etc. It's like a disability that is ok to use as a punch line

Peace & Hugs,

TnT

Or, if you want to get all deep on them, you could respond, There but for the grace of God go I/we.

It's really bad..but i had seen very alike situations in my life. In the other day a teacher of mine, that happens to be a doctor, was laughing about a patient, saying she was crazy because she hasn't any social contact and worked at home. I wasn't a pretty moment. But generaly, even what should be informed people, tend to laugh about it.
I guess you don't live in the same country as I, so I think it's a global problem.

"Some workplaces drive us to drink, others drive us crazy. Maybe it's time to seek a new job." Could be a witty comeback. At the same time, gossiping in the workplace, I don't know about you, but where I work, that's something that can be seen as harassment, and where I work, there's a procedure to follow, that includes writing down details and brining it to management's attention. ((if, of course, this discussion didn't involve the management...))

Jimi,

Personally, situations like this offend me. Whether or not others were joking doesn't really matter to me. If that co-worker were there, chances are that she'd be feeling pretty low and hurt. That's just not cool, imo.

I would remind them that we all have problems and they probably wouldn't be real keen on others teasing them if (or when) they'd go back in for serious treatment. They may think that you're being a "fuddy duddy", but I'd venture to say that a couple of them probably feel the same way & they're just holding their discomfort in to themselves.

That's why I stopped telling people that I suffered from a mental disorder and/or was on SSDI over 15 yrs or so. I would rather leave them guessing about my situation then have them know because I would always end up with the short end of the stick. And this definitely includes relatives (plus landlords). So much for the "spirituality" that so many people claim to have faith in and "practice".

Even a few psych nurses and psych techs treated me horribly in the hospital in the 90's.

I read an interesting fact about atheism (which may relate to this topic): 45% of UK are atheists, 15% of USA are atheists. (Really surprising I thought. I thought it might be the other way round.)

I had a wonderful, life-changing interaction with my husband once; I thought he was laughing at me and pretended to pout and told him not to laugh at me the same time he was talking and saying he was not laughing at me or even with me (my words had gotten tangled and I'd said something that did not make sense), he was "enjoying me".

Context and asking another why they are doing or saying what they are doing or saying is all. Otherwise we're only in our heads with our suppositions about others behavior. When my words get tangled now I too enjoy me

If I had been in a mental hospital and you had not, and you were suddenly in a mental hospital, I might laugh for "joy" that I could identify with you and know you would be better able to understand my feelings and I could talk to you now about things that perhaps I could not talk to you about before.

not cool. i would have got up and left the table.

I think many of the things said is due to their own situation. There is no management, just a crazy boss that is a scammer and unethical.

They are not employees, they are placed there as part of a work program, they are not paid, have no employment benefits and no vacation. They don't have full unemployment benefits and in the case having no spouse supporting them they might have some welfare money. They lose all benefits if they don't stay in the project. They do real labor with no real pay check, no right to unionize, no one to complain to, no say about working hours or tasks.

I think they feel they are the scraps and leftovers so they must find someone else to kick down. When stuck like that I don't think that is the healthiest approach, but I guess that is what humans do. kick the weaker...

Mental health stigma is everywhere. The so - called nuthouse. It's a misunderstanding of the conditions, ignorance is bliss, the fear continues everyday...