I'm very concerned about the mental health of my co-worker: how can I help them?
The first step is to work to convince them to seek professional help, both for their emotional state and for any perceived improper actions of others. Tell them that the &quot;fear of dying&quot; suggests that they should visit a counselor, perhaps at the university, and work through the issue.
Don't start, however, with notifying other authorities yourself (caveat below) as you don't know what that might trigger at their university. You might be making their problems worse.
The caveat is the situation in which they suggest they might harm another person. Then you need to contact that person, if possible, or some authority. As I understand it, that is the same sort of action that a professional would be required to take.
I don't have advice, unfortunately, for the case in which they say they will harm themself. A trained counselor will have a solution I think. I don't know the ethics of contacting authorities in that situation.
But start with them. Don't try to counsel them yourself, as you don't have the training. But try to get them to seek the help they need themselves.