this is a coworker.
to me a clear no, this person jokes about it and smiles. I can share her frustration with stupid job tasks, demanding clients, or having to get up too early, commute… I find her genuine and full of energy, I like working with her, she’s sincere. I like that in people, she likes to help.
However, other 2 female colleagues have the opposite point of view: there is something that troubles her because she constantly jokes about death, killing herself due to some clients, waking up early…
We all agree she is so full of energy, my colleagues say she jokes about it constantly. I hear her joking about once or twice a day.
Am I being naive?
Dark humor is a coping mechanism. It’s a positive thing, I believe. As for what she is coping with - who knows?
Maybe she is struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts. Maybe it’s an awareness of the meaninglessness of life. Maybe she has had to adapt to working or living in close contact with mortality: exposure to war, working in healthcare, etc…
I think the most important part is that she is coping.
In the absence of other signs that she might be in danger or is acting out of character, I would not be concerned.