A lifebuoy in a crisis. What not to say? - Patryk Budzyński

In this episode of the "Well Said" series, Andrzej Silczuk talks to Patryk Budzyński—a psychologist, CBT/DBT psychotherapist, and crisis intervention specialist—about what a mental health crisis is, how to recognize it, and how to respond to it, both as a professional and as someone looking to support a person in a difficult moment.

We discuss:

1. What a mental health crisis is—why it is neither an illness nor a disorder, and why it requires mindfulness and support,
2. How to recognize the onset of a crisis—what signals in behavior, emotions, and professional performance may indicate one,
3. What an HR professional, leader, or colleague can do when they notice a change in an employee's performance—and how to initiate an initial, supportive conversation,
4. Which mistakes to avoid when trying to help—from downplaying the signs to filtering someone else's crisis through your own experiences,
5. How crisis intervention differs from psychotherapy—and why the metaphor of learning to swim versus using a lifebuoy accurately illustrates this difference,
6. How Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and skills training can serve as prevention—not just in a clinical setting, but in everyday life,
7. Whether a crisis can affect an entire team—and how an organization should prepare for it before it even happens.

A crisis can affect any of us. The question is: what do we do before it happens and once it arrives?

This recording is from the Multi.Life channel—a wellbeing platform for companies.

Check it out: https://bit.ly/42Lvf7J | Demo for HR: https://bit.ly/48Kn6nE

1. 00:01:00 - Guest introduction - Patryk Budzyński, CBT/DBT psychotherapist and crisis intervention specialist
2. 00:02:09 - What is a mental health crisis?
3. 00:02:58 - A crisis is not an illness or a mental disorder—why this distinction matters
4. 00:03:23 - Modern life and the loss of mindfulness—living in the fast lane and cognitive overload
5. 00:04:00 - Overstimulation and ADHD-like symptoms—the diagnostic trap
6. 00:05:43 - How to recognize the onset of a crisis? Signs in daily functioning
7. 00:07:34 - Anxiety as a paralyzing emotion—how it affects the body and thinking
8. 00:08:09 - Exposure and the hierarchy of fears—an example of working with anxiety, e.g., fear of riding the subway
9. 00:10:50 - The role of HR and leadership: providing initial supportive care, not specialized crisis intervention
10. 00:13:33 - How to conduct an initial supportive conversation with an employee in crisis
11. 00:16:32 - Common mistakes made by those providing support: downplaying early warning signs and viewing the situation through the lens of one's own perspective
12. 00:20:10 - Who is a crisis interventionist and how does their work differ from psychotherapy
13. 00:25:54 - Psychotherapy is like learning to swim; crisis intervention is the lifebuoy
14. 00:26:59 - Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): the four skills training modules
15. 00:31:55 - Team crisis: how an organization should respond to a collective crisis
16. 00:34:09 - A good organization doesn't wait for a crisis: building readiness in advance
17. 00:36:35 - Crisis prevention: knowledge, competencies, and DBT tools for everyday life
18. 00:38:26 - How to take care of yourself without therapy: sleep, balance, and the basics of mental hygiene
19. 00:40:04 - What to do when a loved one is in crisis: being present as the first step

MultiLife