Thank you so much. That's a really important question on a few levels.
Yes, I think we're looking at the person. There's actually a writer on suffering who was in medicine, Eric Cassell, who talks a lot about suffering being a situation where the integrity of the person is threatened. I think that applies to both physical and mental illness. Assessing on a case-by-case basis is the only way to get an understanding of that unique person, their needs and their circumstances. Having an assessment also creates a relationship between the assessor and the person being assessed. It is within that unique relationship that the assessor and the person being assessed can come to a shared understanding of the situation and can collaborate. I think it is vital that people be assessed case by case rather than through a blanket statement.
With respect to your comment about physical pain, I think you're referring to what I mentioned around the severity of suffering both physically and mentally. That's also something that I think can only be assessed qualitatively between the assessor and the person being assessed.
I hope I've answered your question.