Letter: Everyone tutted but did nothing to help

As it was World Mental Health Awareness Day on October 10, I thought this might be a good time for me to share an experience that I had quite recently.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th Oct 2016, 14:21 BST
Updated 25th Oct 2016, 17:52 BST
dispair or worried - pic posed by modeldispair or worried - pic posed by model
dispair or worried - pic posed by model

I was travelling on public transport where a women clearly had a mental health issue, she was alone and she was randomly shouting out.

Everyone, including the driver, tutted, got annoyed, moved away from her and rolled their eyes at each other.

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No one did anything to help. I tried but was told by another passenger not to get involved.

Sadly, with no support, I gave into my baser instincts. Since then, I have often wondered if that woman had been bleeding instead shouting, whether everyone’s reaction might have been very different?

I suspect it would. I have also often wondered whose mother, daughter, wife or grandma she might have been.

Louise Wilcockson

by email