Concerned about a colleague in the work place

[Itsanothermanicmonday]

I have come across someone at work and I am concerned about them.

I don’t work directly with them, don’t see them every week (we are based in different places and I work part time) and we are not in the same team. Outside of work they don’t seem to have many friends. So not much of a support network outside of work so work seems to be fairly central to them.

From a handful of recent casual chats I am aware they have a number of issues going on. Possibly previous MH issues, don’t get on with Line Manager (nothing unusual there this manager has a history of being unsupportive and has a bad rep), a situation happened at work a few months ago directly involving this person and it was handled very badly by the sounds of it (by all involved) and because of this, this person feels unsupported and alienated by colleagues in the office where they were originally based/placed and also by senior management. They have also contributed to alienating themselves from this office because of this situation and they are also seeing the worst in other work situations. They have taken to working remotely from random free desks and offices (which is ok for the work they do as most of it is online).

In some instances they do have valid points so I have had a couple of chats with them and tried to be supportive, tried to cheer them up and give some background and explanations about some situation's (if I thought it might help) and tried to be a good colleague/work friend.

But I have this week came into work to a message from them and I am more concerned as they seem to be getting angrier and more irrrational. I feel like advising my Line Manager about my concerns but this may well make the situation worse for them. Also, if I mention this person hypothetically it will be obvious who this person is to my manager.

Any advice here to support this person, help keep them safe but without antagonising the situation for them and breaking any confidences? What would you do?

[livingnight]

Does your company have a EAP system ?

Is it possible that the manager has been undermining this person saying that people don't like them etc ?

Can this manager be trusted to not use any information you give them not as a weapon.

People don't tend to leave jobs they leave managers.

This person may appear off balance, are you sure that someone isn't purposely knocking them off balance.

[SilverGlitterBaubles]

Do you have a HR manager that you can raise concerns with about their wellbeing?

[Bringtheweatherwithyou]

People don't tend to leave jobs they leave managers.

This.

Your colleague needs to be supported by someone above her own manager.

[bctf123]

@Bringtheweatherwithyou

People don't tend to leave jobs they leave managers.

This.

Your colleague needs to be supported by someone above her own manager.

I had this in the form of laughing it off, lot of support I should have had from lm, lot of cost chats about strategy and direction, tons of encouragement but eventually your lm still has an outsized influence