What common reaction did David admit having during his conversation with a suicidal youth?

• A. He wanted to tell her that things were not as bad as she thought
• B. He immediately called emergency services
• C. He pretended nothing was wrong
• D. He told her to stop talking

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is recognizing a common reaction counselors have in crisis moments: wanting to reassure someone who is feeling overwhelmed or suicidal. Saying things aren’t as bad as you think is a natural impulse—an attempt to ease the pain quickly. But this kind of minimization often diminishes the person’s feelings and can shut down honest sharing, making it harder to understand the depth of their distress or to assess their safety.

That’s why this option is the best answer: it captures a real, human reaction that David admitted having, which reflects how easily a well-meaning counselor can slip into reassuring instead of validating. In practice, a more helpful approach would be to acknowledge the youth’s feelings, reflect what they’ve said, and then gently explore safety, intent, and next steps.

The other choices depict actions that might be appropriate in certain situations, but they don’t illustrate the admit-and-recognize reaction described here, and they miss the chance to validate and directly assess what the youth is experiencing.