Difficulty: Explorer (Level 1)
It makes sense to be shocked, disappointed and confused when you see someone you respect behave unkindly. Here are some things you could do.
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Watch how this student treats other people. It is important to remember that one single instance does not define who they are. People can act out of character for many reasons, such as stress, personal issues or even a bad day. But if they are always unkind, you might want to change how much you talk or spend time with them.
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You could also tell your senior how you felt when you saw them being unkind to someone else. You can ask them to explain why they acted that way.
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You could keep your distance. You could try only talking to them when other people are around and keeping the conversation short. When you want to leave, you could say, “Excuse me, I need to leave” or “I’m meeting someone later; let’s keep this short.” Using these phrases is a polite way to spend less time with them without being rude.
This question was answered by clinical psychologists from Shall We Talk, a mental health initiative under the Department of Health launched with the Advisory Committee on Mental Health
