Laughing on the Crisis Line: Humor’s Appropriate Place in Mental Health Care

Abstract

“Is it ever okay to laugh with your callers on a suicide prevention line?” I have asked myself this question a few times while working on crisis lines for the better part of five years. On the one hand, I can understand arguments for avoiding humor in a crisis. On the other, well-timed humor has shown remarkable power in various crisis situations, from convincing people to open the door to assistance in a domestic dispute, to reducing tensions in heated business meetings.