Some people aren’t well. There are people who are going through some serious mental health issues. These people can be violent or display aggressive behavior. You can just be going along enjoying your day, and then next thing you know, you can find yourself in a possibly violent situation. What do you do? Well, here is some advice on how to manage to deescalate a possible unpleasant interaction.

When dealing with someone that may be deranged and mentally unwell, you must asses the individual. Are they an extreme threat to you or anyone else’s safety. If it just seem a little trouble, then it’s possible they might just need a little space. If they seem really angry and possibly dangerous, then you might need to be concerned about your personal safety. The person may, in fact, be dangerous and try to avoid that individual and get some place where there are other people. Don’t immediately call the police. That would cause the situation to escalate. The police, even if they hurry, won’t have enough time to prevent an attack.

Stay aware of your surroundings. If you can spot a problematic individual before they notice you, you can avoid a possible danger. In many cases that I have had with the mentally unwell, it just was a matter of ignoring the person. Most people who display erratic behavior just want attention. They have problems that other people would never know. You can’t fix these problems. A man or woman with severe issues needs to seek out professional help. Giving money or whatever the person may ask for will only band-aid the problem. If a person seems distressed, a simple act of compassion may calm the person. I would advise caution when interacting with the mentally ill.

We all go through hard times in our lives. Some people have it worse than others. Don’t assume that just because a person seems unwell that they are, in fact, a danger. They just maybe fighting a battle that the world is unaware of. If they seem dangerous try to find a well lit, crowded place. There is safety in numbers.Please don’t be judgmental. Not everyone that’s out there is out to cause violence. Have a sense of compassion and understanding, you might just save a life.