Self care for lawyers - mental health matters Rimmer... · mental health matters Elizabeth Rimmer...
Transcript of Self care for lawyers - mental health matters Rimmer... · mental health matters Elizabeth Rimmer...
Selfcareforlawyers-mentalhealthmatters
ElizabethRimmerCEOLawCareMarch32018
WhatisMentalHealth?
WHOdefinesmentalhealthas:‘astateofwellbeinginwhicheveryindividualrealiseshisorherownpotential,cancopewiththenormalstressesoflife,canworkproductivelyandfruitfullyandcanmakeacontributiontohisorhercommunity’
2
AngusLyon:lawyer&publishedauthor
• Lawyersusetheirmindscontinually,exercisingtheirbrainstofindinnovativesolutionstoclientproblems,anticipatingpotentialpitfallsanddevelopmentsincourseofamatterandinmanaging/prioritisingcaseloads.Theneedtothinkaboutandcareforourmindsandbemoreawareofthemindsofothersmustbeofprimeconcern.
ALawyers’GuidetoWellbeingandManagingStress
• Individual• Employer
• WiderLegalCommunity
WhydoMentalHealthandWellbeinginthelegalcommunitymatter?
TheLegalWorkplace
• Competitive• Pressured• Longhoursculture• Managingexpectations
CultureandPractice• Negativeemotions
• Prudence
• Reactive
• Replaying
• Perfectionistapproach
• Selfsufficient
• Noemotionalvocabulary
• TypeApersonality
Studentsandyounglawyers• Intensivestudy
• Findingatrainingposition
• Transitionintopractice
FiveStepstoImproveWellbeing
WhatisLawCare?• Thecharitythatpromotesandsupportsgoodmentalhealthandwellbeinginthelegalprofession
• Establishedin1997• Fundedby,butindependentof,professionalbodies
• CoverstheUKandIreland• Allbranchesofthelegalprofession
OurVisionandGoalsVisionAlegalcommunitythatvalues,promotesandsupportsgoodmentalhealthandwellbeingFourgoals– Support– Information– RaisingAwareness– TacklingStigma
Support
• Oursupportspansthewholeoflegallife,fromstudenttotrainingthroughtopracticeandretirement
• Wecanhelpthoseconcernedaboutthemselves,acolleague,friend,orfamilymember
• Weunderstandlifeinthelaw
Support–Helpline• Free,independent,confidential• Discussconcerns• Listenwithoutjudgment,withempathy• Trainedstaff/volunteershaveworkedinthelaw• Signposting• Peersupport• 365daysayear
LawCarevolunteersandstaff
WhoCallsUs?
ReasonforCall
RaisingAwareness–let’sgetthelegalcommunitytalking• Howtolookafteryourself• Recognisingthesigns• Asking‘areyouok?’• Wheretofindhelp• Acrossthecommunity
Information
• Websitewww.lawcare.org.uk• Factsheets• Toptentipsforwellbeing• Tipsforlookingafterothers• LawCareNews• Resources• Casestudies/blogs
Tacklingstigma
• It’soktoaskforhelp• Sharinglivedexperiences• Cultureshift• Wellbeingontheagenda
Tipsforstudentsandyounglawyers
• Talktosomeone–friends,family,tutor,manager,LawCare
• Youarenotalone• Networks–JLD,YBC,YLAL,studentlawsocieties
www.lawcare.org.uk
JointheConversation