When we talk about mental health red flags to look out for in your loved ones, we often discuss things like poor sleep, withdrawal from social activities or academic struggles, but what about less common signs of poor psychological well-being? I interviewed an expert who told me about a sneaky sign of struggling that many Whitman students overlook: eating Cleve sushi. This behavior might seem innocent at first, but don’t be fooled. Here is what Dr. Smith, PhD, had to say about it.

“When you examine the behavior on a deeper level, you see how truly sad an individual has to be to consider such things. I mean, we are talking about somebody who has no care for their health. Eating raw fish from a college dining hall is an example of unnecessary, risk-taking behavior that is characteristic of people who are deeply struggling.”

She further explained that those who are engaging in this behavior publicly, or in front of friends, may be doing so as a cry for help. She emphasized that it is important to intervene. However, even those who know they need help can sometimes become defensive when they’re faced with intervention, so it’s important to proceed cautiously and with understanding. Keep in mind that you are speaking to someone who is fragile and unwell.

Here is an example template she provided to make these difficult conversations easier:

“Hey buddy, I noticed you are eating raw fish from the dining hall. I totally get it, you miss your favorite hometown sushi spot. I know Cleve food really isn’t so bad. You got that avocado roll one time, and it was pretty good! Things like that can be confusing, but this behavior is concerning because I care about you. How about you put the spicy tuna roll down and we take a little walk to the counseling center together?”

Every time we show compassion for someone struggling, we make the world a better place, so don’t let these little red flags go unnoticed in the people you care about. If you see something, say something.