Reach out this World Mental Health Day
The Law Society of England and Wales today encouraged legal professionals to reach out to LawCare this World Mental Health Day.
“We know the profession’s working practices can contribute to an increased risk of poor mental health, due to long hours and high workloads,” said Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce.
“If our members are feeling burnt out, anxious, depressed, stressed or experiencing any other forms of mental ill-health, I encourage them to reach out to LawCare.”
LawCare offers free, confidential emotional support, peer support and resources for those working in the law.
LawCare’s 2021 Life in the Law report found that 69% of respondents had experienced mental ill-health in the 12 months before the survey.
60.7% of respondents said they’d experienced anxiety often, very often or all the time. 48.4% had experienced low mood and 28.9% experienced depression.
I. Stephanie Boyce added: “LawCare can be reached by phone, email or online chat. It offers emotional support to legal professionals working in the UK, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
“The service is available to all branches of the legal profession, including solicitors, barristers, costs lawyers, Chartered Legal Executives, law students, retired lawyers, support staff and concerned family members.
“The UK is going through a volatile period of change, with increasing costs pressures, rising inflation, growing energy bills and all manner of other events outside of our control, it is understandable if legal professionals are experiencing mental ill-health.
“I’ve always made it known that mental health and wellbeing are important to me. As I near the end of my time as president, I urge members of the profession to reach out to LawCare if they need support this World Mental Health Day.”
Notes to editors
Read about World Mental Health Day
Read LawCare’s Life in the Law report
Read the Law Society’s guidance on supporting wellbeing in the workplace
Read the Law Society’s reasonable adjustments guidance
Read the Law Society’s wellbeing guidance
About the Law Society
The Law Society is the independent professional body that works globally to support and represent solicitors, promoting the highest professional standards, the public interest and the rule of law.
Press office contact: Naomi Jeffreys | 020 8049 3928