Chapter One: The Cryptic Posts
Miguel leaned back in his chair and let out a quiet sigh. Another workday, just like the one before. Ever since the pandemic forced his company to switch to a work-from-home setup, his daily routine had blurred into a predictable cycle. It was comfortable, sure, but at times, it felt monotonous.
He stood up, stretched his arms over his head, and flopped onto his bed. Reaching for his phone on the nightstand, he began scrolling through social media, letting the posts pass by without much thought.
Then, something caught his eye.
His thumb paused mid-scroll as he landed on a post from his colleague, Dennis. At first, he skimmed over it, but as he read the words again, a small knot formed in his stomach. It wasn’t anything earth-shattering, but it was enough to make him pause, his mind shifting from autopilot to concern.
The post was odd—full of scattered thoughts, cryptic phrases, and, most worrying of all, his last post which said, “I want to disappear”.
Miguel’s stomach tightened. Dennis—the guy who always cracked jokes, who never took anything too seriously—this wasn’t like him. Not at all.
They had been close ever since Miguel joined the company. Dennis was the type of coworker who made office life bearable, always the first to suggest lunch out, the last to leave after-work drinks. Over time, they became more than just work friends. They had each other’s backs.
Over the past few months, however, Miguel has noticed subtle changes. Dennis had been more withdrawn in virtual meetings, his usual humor forced or absent altogether. He missed deadlines more often, responding to messages with vague excuses or not at all. Ever since the company announced a work-from-home setup, Dennis had seemed unsettled. He had been happy about returning to the province—he missed home—but he also worried about his long-time girlfriend, who stayed in the city. Dennis had been sharing snippets about how their relationship became strained since the pandemic. However, lately, Miguel hasn’t received any messages from Dennis.
The more Miguel thought about Dennis, the more his worry grew. He hovered over his phone before finally typing a message and hitting send.
“Hey. Everything okay?”
The little dots appeared. Flickered. Then—nothing.
His chest tightened. He hesitated, then tapped Dennis’s name and called. The phone rang. And it rang. And rang.
No answer.
Minutes passed. Then hours. He tried again. Still nothing.
By the time a whole day passed with no reply nor an answer, Miguel knew—something was wrong.
Question: What do you think happened to Dennis? If you were Miguel, what would you do after receiving no reply or answer from your colleague?
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Chapter Two: The Call for Action
Miguel’s heart pounded, anxiety creeping through his veins like an unshakable chill.
“He is with his family right now, I’m sure he’ll be okay,” he thought.
The unease had settled deep, refusing to be reasoned away.
“I got to do something, but I also don’t have the contact numbers of his family members.” He thought long and hard about what his other options are, and an idea came into his mind.
Desperate for clarity, he turned to Clara, their HR manager—a woman known not just for her efficiency, but for the kind of quiet empathy that could steady even the most turbulent waters. If anyone could handle this situation with the care it required, it was her.
As he spoke, Clara listened intently, her warm expression gradually giving way to something more serious. The slight furrow in her brow, the flicker of concern in her gaze—Miguel didn’t miss any of it in their video call. When he finished, she offered a small nod, her voice even but laced with something unspoken. “I’ll take care of it.”
She moved swiftly, dialing Dennis’ number, her fingers pressing each digit with purpose. The phone rang. And rang. But no answer came. She tried again. And again. Each attempt met only with silence.
Frowning, she turned to the emergency contact listed in his file, but the moment she dialed, an automated voice greeted her: Your call cannot be completed as dialed. A dead end.
Under normal circumstances, HR would send someone to check on an unresponsive employee. But with the pandemic restricting movement, that wasn’t an option. Then she remembered that she could have a management consultation with their company’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) hotline.
So, she reached out to the PowerVision hotline, hoping for guidance. Within minutes, she was connected to Sarah, one of their counseling managers.
“Contact the local barangay officials,” Sarah advised. “They can send someone to check on him. Make sure they understand this is urgent.”
Clara didn’t hesitate. She revisited Dennis’ file and found the address of his hometown. She made the call to the barangay, her pulse quickening as she explained the situation. The Barangay Captain responded immediately. “We’ll send two tanods to check on him right away.”
And so, she waited. The minutes stretched, tension winding tight in her chest. Then, finally, a response.
The officials had found Dennis. He was outside, seated on his porch, a bottle of beer in hand, sharing an easy laugh with a neighbor.
“He looks fine,” they reported. “No signs of distress.”
Clara exhaled slowly, with relief unfurling in her chest. She reported back to Sarah what the Barangay Captain said.
Question: How would you feel at this point if you were Clara? What do you think Sarah will say to Clara?
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Chapter Three: The House Visit
Sarah listened carefully to Clara’s update, her voice calm yet firm. “Clara, appearances can be deceiving. Just because Dennis was laughing doesn’t mean he’s okay. There’s more beneath the surface.”
Clara’s heart fluttered with a renewed sense of urgency. This wasn’t over—not by a long shot.
Following Sarah’s sage advice, Clara urged the barangay officials to visit Dennis again, but this time, to sit and talk with him.
When Dennis opened the door, he seemed surprised but not annoyed. With warm smiles, the officials asked if they could sit and chat. Dennis hesitated, then nodded, leading them inside.
As they settled in, the officials explained the reason for their visit. Clara and his colleague, Miguel, were worried. His posts had raised alarm. They feared he might be on the brink of doing something drastic.
Dennis looked at them for a long moment before exhaling deeply. His gaze dropped to the floor.
Then, slowly, he spoke.
He had been on the verge of walking into the ocean to drown himself when an old friend unexpectedly appeared. His friend had invited him for a beer, and in that conversation, Dennis had poured out his heart. His girlfriend had broken up with him on Valentine’s Day, leaving him devastated.
But at that moment with his friend, something changed. Dennis realized he wasn’t alone. And now, knowing that his colleagues and even local officials cared about him, the tiny glimmer of hope he felt grew stronger.
He agreed to seek professional help through the EAP, beginning his journey toward healing.
When Miguel finally received a message from Dennis, it was short but meaningful:
“Thanks for looking out for me.”
Question: What lessons can you learn from the story? How can you apply them?
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Epilogue: Workplace Well-being Lessons
- Take signs of self-harm risks seriously. Miguel noticed changes in Dennis’ mood and behavior. His vigilance in recognizing a cryptic post from Dennis as a potential self-harm risk prompted him to act. While some friends might have dismissed these posts as overly dramatic, Miguel understood that many people with suicidal intentions do give hints.
- Develop mental health awareness in your organizations. The company where Miguel and Dennis worked regularly conducted mental health training and promotional events. This helped Miguel identify mental health risk signs. It’s crucial for companies to implement mental health awareness programs so employees can look out for each other.
- Partner with mental health service providers. For several years, we have provided an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for this company. The HR Manager responded to the concern with urgency and presence of mind, reflecting the company’s culture of prioritizing employee safety. She was trained in Psychological First Aid and knew how to utilize the EAP’s management consultation services effectively. Ensuring that HR and management are trained and supported to provide proper care is essential.
- Show genuine care. Many individuals experiencing despair and suicidal thoughts feel hopeless and lonely. The care and support Dennis received from his friends, company and even the barangay made him realize he was not alone. This gave him the hope to seek help and move forward.
