To think it's never funny that someone has made an attempt on their own life?

[YoureBeingASillyBilly]

Im watching how to get a council house and one of the housing staff is describing how some clients have slit their wrists whilst in the office, as well as other things that imply distress and she is smiling about it as if she is finding it amusing! She may choose to believe these people are putting on an act but to sit and smile while talking about people slitting their own wrists is disgusting IMO! Anyone getting to the point where they think slitting their wrists will benefit their case is to be pitied not smirked about.

[NoArmaniNoPunani]

YANBU. I'm watching too and was shocked by her

[YoureBeingASillyBilly]

Glad it wasnt just me being over sensitive (have lost 2 friends to suicide). Shocked is right.

[HolidayCriminal]

I can't say because I wasn't there.
I do believe sometimes you have to laugh at the most horrible things in life or you couldn't live with the knowledge.
Also, some people laugh or grin when distressed; not every smile is a smirk.

[YoureBeingASillyBilly]

I laugh uncontrollably when nervous. If i thought for one second i would do it when discussing someone attempting suicide i just wouldnt discuss it. And certainly not on tv. Its fine for her to privately laugh about it as a coping mechanism. Not whilst talking about it on national tv. It gives a horrible impression of how seriously people's circumstances are (or arent) being taken.

[Gurnie]

I have a friend that laughs in the most inappropriate of situations. It's really, really unfortunate and hard to be around but I think it's a habit and she doesn't even realise she is doing it. I didn't see the programme but it sounds awful.

[Kernowal]

She wasn't belittling them. She has a difficult job and was simply describing the things people do. I thought she sounded friendly and factual, certainly not offensive. It's obvious that some people do try it on in those circumstances, but others are in genuine distress and she described what encounters.

A friend once told me that her cat had been knocked down on Christmas Day. I didn't find it remotely funny, but I stood there with a stupid grin on my face saying how dreadful it was. I couldn't't help myself and the more I tried to stop,the more nervous laughter came out.

[YoureBeingASillyBilly]

I dont disagree that she has a very hard job and am in no doubt that people try it on. She was describing some of what happens. If she had done it without the sneery smile i would have no problem with what she was saying. It was the smile that basically said "this is how far they go to try it on. can you beliee it? chancers. " Now please tell me how that gives any homeless person reassurance that their case will be believed or taken seriously? It wasnt appropriate. Not on tv.

[gordyslovesheep]

no you are reading her smile that way - this is the same woman who was sat on the floor next to a hysterical and distressed collapsed woman offering her comfort wasn't it

she was describing some of the worse things she has witnessed in her job - it's ambulance humour for want of a better word - if you took it all to heart and got distressed you would never last in some jobs

[YoureBeingASillyBilly]

There is a difference between not getting distressed and finding it amusing!

[Eeyore86]

I haven't seen the programme however I work in an NHS setting and at least twice a week we get people stating that they are suicidal (granted no one has yet slit their wrists in the office however there have been OD's) and it is very easy to tell which people are genuinely in distress and serious and those who are saying it for effect, although they all get treated in the same way (crisis team, GP appointment arranged etc).

Sometimes in the office people make a joke about it as a way to deal with stress (black humour) some times it's in slight shock of having someone who is saying they have plans to end their life however can't have the crisis team to home visit as they are too busy that day and they'd have to come the next day. In the case of the ODs nobody made jokes but comments did occur a few days afterwards once the workers involved knew the person was ok and they'd gotten over the shock

It isn't ideal and I certainly wouldn't be talking about it like that on tv however some people do deal with stress in that way ie what appears to be inappropriately

[NobodyLivesHere]

My brother is police officer and has dealt with some horrific scenes and has a very dark humour about it. It's a coping mechanism I guess. But I didn't see the show to judge.

[YoureBeingASillyBilly]

No problem with it being discussed like that in private/amongst colleagues. My issue is with it being discussed like that on public tv, straight after a clip of a woman falling onto the floor saying she didnt feel well and in the midst of a huge housing crisis where people are already being bombarded with language that suggests anyone who has the misfortune of needing to rely in benefits is to e regarded with suspicion.

[basgetti]

I thought it was strange too. I also thought her comforting the woman who had collapsed being juxtaposed with her talking about chancers 'trying it on' was a bit off considering that the poor woman had nowhere to sleep that night, but maybe that was down to the editing.