Improving mental wellness in the legal profession is a top priority for the Law Society. This Mental Health Week we join the Canadian Mental Health Association to explore how compassion connects us all for this year's A Call to Be Kind campaign.
Many people, including legal professionals, face mental health struggles and it’s important to know you’re not alone. Anxiety, stress, substance use, unhealthy eating habits and suicidal thoughts can happen to anyone.
According to the National Study on the Health and Wellness Determinants of Legal Professionals in Canada, more than 50 per cent of legal professionals in BC experience psychological distress and about 56 per cent of legal professionals in Canada are affected by burnout. However, less than 45 per cent seek professional help, with the majority believing “it will pass.” The same study found that legal professionals are more likely to have suicidal thoughts compared to other professions in Canada.
We know compassion and kindness can make a huge impact on others and encourage you to join the conversation by sharing your stories and ideas by using the hashtag #CompassionConnects on social media. Sharing your story by talking with or listening to a colleague can help reduce stigma and promote understanding and acceptance.
Learn more about the free resources available to you and your family:
- If you feel you don’t have time to address your mental health or are worried about a colleague and don’t know where to start, we have you covered. Visit our Lawyer Well-Being FAQs that will answer your questions and much more.
- Listen to the LawCast podcast episode When lawyers need help: Navigating mental health resources. Director of Policy & Practice Support, Claire Marchant and UX & Content Strategist Rose Morgan discuss the importance of mental health.
- Looking for resources aimed at compassion? LifeSpeak has put together a variety of videos and expert blogs aimed at caregiving, compassion fatigue and guided meditation in honour of mental health week.
- In February 2024, we teamed up with the Continuing Legal Education Society of BC (CLEBC) to provide part two of the Mental Health Forum aimed at providing legal professionals strategies for advancing their own mental health and for employers who want to improve mental health within their organization. If you missed the event, a recording is available.
- For additional support for yourself or families, we encourage you to visit our Lawyer Well-Being Hub. Our hub provides easy to access resources, videos, tools and information.
We encourage you to be kind to yourself and others by prioritizing your mental health this year.
